GACHAGUA; FREE TO RUN FOR PRESIDENCY COME 2027

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has affirmed higher possibilities of contesting in the 2027 presidential elections , noting that his impeachment cannot affect his bid since, the constitutional provides him an opportunity to run for office in the midst of pending legal processes .

Speaking on Weru TV on Sunday, April 27, 2025, Gachagua maintained that the Kenyan constitution has freed him to run for elective positions provided he is not barred by the highest court in the Country.
He pleaded his freedom in relation to the case of Sirisia Member of Parliament John Waluke, who got an opportunity to run and was ultimately re-elected , in the course of appealing against his 74-year prison sentence.

“Sheria inasema ya Kenya ya kwamba uko na haki ya kupigania kiti kama uko na kesi kotini na haijakamilika mbaka Supreme Court. John Waluke alifungwa 74 years. Akiwa amefungwa akaachiliwa na bond akasimama kiti ya Sirisia akapita akaendelea. Court of Appeal imemuondolea kesi. Kama sasa angekatazwa kusimama kwa sababu alikua na kesi alafu court of Appeal imuondolee kesi si angekua amenyimwa haki take,” Gachagua said.

He further declared to continue with his presidential campaigns as he work on exhausting all the legal procedures.
“Kwa hivyo sheria yetu inasema kama huja exhaust the legal mechanism you are free to vie for any office. Kesi ya Rigathi Gachagua ata haijaanza, itaenda High Court kama haitaenda vile ninataka ama vile serikali inataka iende Court of Appeal. Kama haiendi vizuri tuende mbaka Supreme Court. Kabla haijamalizika na Supreme Court, Rigathi Gachagua atapigania kiti ya urais na atashinda na kura mingi sana,” the former DP affirmed.

The former Mathira law maker also revealed their strategies as the opposition, to unite and field the best candidate to challenge President Ruto come 2027.

“Kila mtu anataka. Mimi napigania kiti cha urais, Martha Karua anapigania kiti cha urais, Kalonzo anapigania kiti cha urais, Matiang’i anapigania kiti cha urais, Eugene Wamalwa anapigania kiti cha urais na tunaendelea kutafuta kura. Pale mwisho tutaongea na sisi tutasikizana tutaachia mtu mmoja,” he disclosed.

He went on stating that he had no issue even if not appointed to run for presidency provided Ruto is ousted.

“[Wasiponipea] hakuna shida ntaunga mtu mwingine mkono. Lazima huyu mujamaa [President Ruto] aende nyumbani,” he said.

Gachagua added that, they intend to mobilize all their votes from strategic kingpins to get a 70+1 victory.
“Pale mwisho tutaketi chini na tutaweka hesabu kwa meza – wewe Rigathi umekuja na nini, wewe Kalonzo umekuja na nini. Formula iko mzuri. Tukija round one na 70 plus one, sisi tunataka 70 plus one,” he claimed.

Gachagua was impeached on October 17, 2024, following 11 grounds against him, including corruption, incitement of ethnic divisions, and insubordination against President Ruto’s administration. It all begun in the National Assembly where 281 members joined his impeachment motion.

His fate was sealed in the Senate after the house dismissed his defence, ousting him, while admitted in hospital for chest pains.

Though, the constitution bars an impeached person from running for elective positions, it also provides an opportunity to seek and exhaust all legal mandates, from the high court to court of appeal and finally the supreme court.

If the supreme court upholds the impeachment, the ousted is doomed to remain in the corridors of political oblivion, but if they dismiss the charges, then freedom to contest prevails.