Petitioner wants court to review Gachagua's impeachment, says it threatens Kenya's democracy

Wambugu Wanjohi, an advocate of the High Court, said that the impeachment "has set the stage for a severe constitutional crisis" and was severely flawed by all parties that were involved in the process among them Senate Speaker Amason Kingi.

Wanjohi argued that the process was rushed and denied Gachagua his constitutional right to a fair hearing since the Senate made a decision in his absence.

"The impeachment was riddled with glaring illegalities, procedural inconsistencies, and irregularities, culminating in absurd rulings by the Speaker of the Senate. These violations demand urgent redress before they inflict further irreversible damage," his petition read in part.

He further holds that the hurried process to oust Gachagua raises questions on the transparency of the process, accusing Speaker Kingi and his National Assembly counterpart Moses Wetangula of being biased.

"Their failure to remain impartial threatens the integrity of Kenya’s legislative and judicial systems. The immediate need to address their compromised roles is paramount to restoring public trust and constitutional order," Wanjohi added.

He said that the process poses a monumental threat of crippling Kenya's legal and political integrity, calling for immediate action by the Judiciary to help salvage the matter.

"The actions taken by the Respondents, if left unchecked, will trigger a full-scale constitutional breakdown," he noted.

Rigathi Gachagua was impeached by the Senate on October 17, 2024, after Senators voted in favour of five out of the 11 grounds presented as grounds for his removal. 

President Ruto has nominated Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki to replace Gachagua.

Gachagua's legal team has argued that the ouster process was marred with ill-intent particularly after the Senate made its decision while the embattled second-in-command was hospitalised.

The impeached Gachagua still maintains that he is the rightful Deputy President and he will fight tooth and nail for his stay in office.