Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has announced a temporary withdrawal from active court battles to focus on building a united opposition front to unseat President William Ruto in the 2027 General Election, even as he prepares to challenge the High Court decision upholding his impeachment.
Speaking at the DCP headquarters in Nairobi on Tuesday, Gachagua said he would leave legal matters to his lawyers while concentrating on political mobilisation alongside other opposition leaders.
The former Deputy President confirmed that he will appeal the High Court judgment that validated the Senate's decision to remove him from office, arguing that the judges misinterpreted the law and disregarded fundamental principles of natural justice.
"We stand here with tremendous respect for the Kenyan judiciary. While we respect the ruling of the High Court, we totally disagree with the interpretation of the law," Gachagua said.
"The long-standing principle of natural justice has been trashed and ignored in broad daylight. We shall proceed to file an appeal at the Court of Appeal on the decision and hope that justice will prevail."
Gachagua revealed that his legal team had conducted a detailed review of the judgment and identified what they believe are significant legal errors and inconsistencies that will form the basis of the appeal. He said he was prepared to pursue the matter all the way to the Supreme Court if necessary.
The DCP leader expressed particular dissatisfaction with what he termed a contradiction in the court's findings. He argued that the judges acknowledged violations of his constitutional rights, including the right to a fair hearing, yet still upheld the impeachment process.
According to Gachagua, the court recognised breaches of constitutional protections under Articles 25, 47 and 50 but failed to provide an appropriate remedy by invalidating the Senate proceedings.
He maintained that both the principles of natural justice and his right to a fair hearing were ignored during the impeachment process.
Despite his criticism of the judgment, Gachagua reiterated his respect for the Judiciary, expressing confidence that the appellate courts would ultimately deliver justice.
At the same time, he signalled a shift in focus toward national politics, saying he would work with opposition allies to chart a strategy for defeating President Ruto in the next General Election, setting the stage for what is likely to be an intense political and legal battle in the coming months.
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