Gachagua Skips Court As Judges Deliver Impeachment Ruling
News Updated: 08 June 2026 14:20 EAT
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Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua was absent from court on Monday as a three-judge High Court bench delivered its ruling on consolidated petitions challenging his impeachment from office. His legal representatives attended the session as the court proceeded to read the long-awaited judgment.
The petitions had challenged the constitutional validity of the impeachment process that removed Gachagua from office in October 2024. He had argued that Parliament failed to follow due process, violated fair hearing rights and breached key constitutional safeguards during both the National Assembly and Senate proceedings.
The High Court matter had been pending for several months, with judges hearing extensive submissions from both sides before setting June 8, 2026, as the date for determination. The case has been widely viewed as a major test of Kenya’s constitutional framework on removal of senior state officers.
The impeachment originated from a motion in the National Assembly that cited multiple allegations, including alleged abuse of office and constitutional violations. The motion was passed by lawmakers and subsequently transmitted to the Senate for trial.
The Senate upheld several of the charges and voted to remove Gachagua from office, marking the first time in Kenya’s history that a Deputy President had been successfully impeached through the constitutional process.
Following the Senate decision, the transition process faced temporary legal interruptions as court orders initially slowed implementation of the succession arrangements. The judiciary later cleared the way for the constitutional process to proceed.
Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki was later sworn in as Deputy President following clearance by the courts, even as legal challenges from Gachagua continued through the judicial system.
Ahead of the ruling, Gachagua had maintained that he respected the court process but insisted that he would pursue further legal action should the judgment not overturn his removal from office. He also called for calm among his supporters during the proceedings.
The outcome of the case is expected to have significant implications for future impeachment proceedings in Kenya, particularly on the balance of power between Parliament and the judiciary and the constitutional thresholds required for removal of high-ranking state officials.
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FELIX MAKONA
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