Nyeri, Kenya — Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is now asking the courts to pay him what he would have earned had he stayed in office for his full five-year term. He says his impeachment was unlawful, and he wants compensation instead of a return to office.
Gachagua’s lawyer, Paul Muite, told the High Court that his client had dropped the bid to be reinstated. “The petitioner wishes to challenge the legality of his impeachment,” Muite said on Wednesday. “He will be asking for the money he would have earned had he served the full five-year term.”
The court was also informed that Gachagua won’t be filing any further urgent applications and simply wants a clear path to the main hearing. “This petition is not a matter of public interest,” Muite added. “It is a personal matter that directly affects the petitioner, who is the one impeached.”
No side in court objected to the proposed change in the case. That means the legal process is now expected to move forward without delays, pending the court’s decision on the amended petition.
The former deputy president was impeached earlier this year in a vote that split both the Senate and the public. His removal was followed by weeks of political debate, street protests in parts of his home region, and legal petitions.
Supporters claim Gachagua was unfairly targeted for political reasons. “He stood for truth, and that made him enemies,” said Peter Nderitu, a resident of Nyeri who was among a small group that welcomed Gachagua back to his home earlier this month. “They just didn’t like that he asked tough questions.”
But others argue that the impeachment followed the law. “The Constitution provides a clear process,” said Nairobi-based constitutional lawyer Angela Mboya. “If Parliament followed it, then any dispute is a matter for the courts to clarify, not public opinion.”
Gachagua, now largely out of the political limelight, has been seen in his rural home in Wamunyoro, Nyeri County. Close allies say he has been consulting with lawyers and quietly preparing for this next legal fight.
This case could set a precedent. If the court agrees to pay a former deputy president for a full term despite early removal, future office holders could follow suit when ousted. For now, the nation watches as the legal drama plays out, one court session at a time.
