Why Gachagua Refused to Attend the Biggest Court Ruling of His Political Career

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua was notably absent from the Milimani Law Courts on Monday as a three-judge bench prepared to deliver its highly anticipated ruling on the legality of his 2024 impeachment.

The ruling, regarded as one of the most significant political and constitutional decisions in recent Kenyan history, is expected to determine whether Gachagua’s removal from office by Parliament was lawful and whether any aspect of the impeachment process violated the Constitution.

Despite the high stakes surrounding the judgment, Gachagua chose not to attend the proceedings in person.

His absence had been anticipated after reports emerged over the weekend indicating that he would skip the court session and instead await the outcome away from the courtroom.

The former Deputy President had earlier stated that he was prepared for any verdict the court would deliver, insisting that his political future would not be determined solely by the outcome of the case.

In recent public remarks, he maintained that he would continue pursuing his political ambitions regardless of the judgment and would exhaust all available legal avenues if the ruling went against him.

Ahead of the ruling, Gachagua appealed to his supporters to remain calm and peaceful irrespective of the court’s decision.

He emphasized the need to respect judicial institutions and avoid actions that could undermine public order during the sensitive moment.

The case stems from Gachagua’s historic impeachment in October 2024, when Parliament voted to remove him from office after lawmakers upheld several charges against him.

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The impeachment made him the first Deputy President in Kenya’s history to be removed through such a process.

Following his ouster, Gachagua launched multiple legal challenges contesting both the constitutionality and legality of the proceedings that led to his removal.

A three-judge bench has since been hearing consolidated petitions seeking to overturn the impeachment.

The petitions challenge decisions made by both the National Assembly and the Senate, arguing that due process may not have been fully observed.

Political observers have described the judgment as a defining moment that could shape Kenya’s political landscape heading into the 2027 General Election.

The ruling is expected to clarify important constitutional questions regarding the impeachment of senior state officers and the limits of parliamentary power.

As the judges prepared to pronounce themselves on the matter, all eyes remained fixed on the courtroom, even in the absence of the man at the centre of the legal battle.

Whatever the outcome, the decision is likely to have far-reaching political and legal consequences for both Gachagua and the country.