The biggest political story surrounding former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua this week is the High Court ruling delivered on June 8, 2026, regarding the legality of his 2024 impeachment. The judgment has reshaped the conversation around his political future and the 2027 presidential race.
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- High Court Upholds the Impeachment
A three-judge High Court bench comprising Justices Eric Ogola, Freda Mugambi, and Anthony Mrima upheld Gachagua's impeachment, ruling that Parliament and the Senate met the constitutional threshold required to remove him from office. This means the court did not overturn the Senate's decision that led to his removal as Deputy President in October 2024.
The ruling represents a major legal setback for Gachagua, who had hoped the courts would invalidate the impeachment process and restore his political standing.
- Court Finds His Rights Were Violated
In a significant twist, the same court found that Gachagua's constitutional right to a fair hearing was violated during the Senate proceedings.
The judges determined that the Senate should have given greater consideration to requests for adjournment when he reported medical complications during the impeachment trial. The court therefore acknowledged procedural violations even while allowing the impeachment outcome to stand.
This aspect of the ruling has generated intense legal debate because critics argue that finding a violation of fair hearing rights should logically have affected the validity of the impeachment itself.
- Opposition Leaders Reject the Judgment
Several politicians allied to Gachagua have criticized the ruling.
Cleophas Malala's Response
Cleophas Malala questioned how the court could simultaneously find that Gachagua's fair hearing rights were violated and still uphold the impeachment.
Malala described the judgment as troubling and argued that it raised constitutional questions that may require further judicial review.
DAP-K Position
The opposition party led by Eugene Wamalwa also criticized the ruling, describing it as inconsistent and unfair. The party argued that the judgment sends mixed signals regarding constitutional protections and due process.
- Can Gachagua Still Run for President?
One of the biggest questions emerging from the ruling is whether Gachagua can contest the presidency in 2027.
Legal experts say the issue remains unresolved.
Lawyer Peter Wanyama argues that Gachagua remains eligible to run because the matter can still proceed through the appellate process, potentially reaching the Supreme Court. According to this interpretation, his political rights are not necessarily extinguished until all legal avenues are exhausted.
Similarly, Law Society of Kenya President Charles Kanjama noted that the High Court did not explicitly pronounce itself on Gachagua's future eligibility for elective office, leaving room for competing legal interpretations.
- Appeal Now Becomes the Next Battlefield
Attention is now shifting to the Court of Appeal.
According to Kanjama, the Court of Appeal possesses wide powers and could potentially:
Uphold the High Court ruling. Modify portions of the judgment. Reverse findings on impeachment. Alter compensation awards related to constitutional violations.
This means Gachagua's legal battle is far from over.
- Gachagua's Political Strategy After the Ruling
Despite the court setback, Gachagua appears determined to continue building his political movement.
Through his party, the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP), he has intensified criticism of President William Ruto and the Kenya Kwanza administration.
Recent DCP activities include:
Campaigns against the Finance Bill 2026. Calls for MPs to reject the government's tax proposals. Publication of alternative budget proposals. Expansion of opposition networks beyond the Mt. Kenya region into areas such as Kisumu, Mombasa, Nakuru, and Eldoret.
Political analysts view these moves as early groundwork for a broad anti-Ruto coalition ahead of the 2027 elections.
- What Happens Next?
Immediate Developments to Watch Whether Gachagua files a formal appeal against the High Court ruling. Whether the Court of Appeal overturns or modifies the judgment. Whether the Supreme Court eventually determines the final constitutional implications of the impeachment. The growth of DCP as an opposition vehicle. Potential alliances between Gachagua, Kalonzo Musyoka, Eugene Wamalwa and other opposition figures ahead of 2027. Political Significance
The June 2026 ruling has not ended the Gachagua story. Instead, it has shifted the contest from Parliament to the courts and from government to opposition politics. While the impeachment remains legally valid for now, the unresolved questions surrounding fair hearing rights, eligibility for future office, and possible appeals ensure that Gachagua remains one of the most influential and controversial figures in Kenya's political landscape heading toward the 2027 General Election.