Gachagua cancels public rallies for 45 days, starts process to get single presidential candidate
By Kenneth Mwenda, June 9, 2026Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has announced that he will not attend any political rallies for the next 45 days as he focuses on legal consultations and internal political planning following the High Court judgment that upheld his impeachment but awarded him Ksh50 million for violation of his right to a fair hearing.
Speaking during a press conference in Nairobi on Tuesday, 9 June 2026, Gachagua said he will use the period to engage his political base, legal team, and advisers on his next course of action, including his appeal at the Court of Appeal.
He said he respects the judiciary but strongly disagrees with the ruling.
“We stand here today with tremendous respect to the judiciary of our country,” he said. “While we respect the ruling of the High Court, we totally and fundamentally disagree with the interpretation of the law and application of facts.”
He confirmed that his legal team, led by Senior Counsel Paul Mwite, has already been instructed to challenge the judgment.
“We shall proceed for an appeal at the Court of Appeal on the decision and hope that justice shall prevail,” he said.
Gachagua taking temporary step back
Gachagua said his supporters had advised him to take a temporary step back from public rallies and instead focus on structured consultations.
“My supporters have now instructed me urgently to embark on the implementation of our joint strategic stance,” he said.
He added that he will still travel briefly to Western Kenya over the weekend to support his party leaders before retreating to Wamunyoro.
Gachagua said the consultations will focus on political strategy, leadership structure, and the selection of a united presidential candidate under the United Alternative Government plan. He said he will engage political leaders, professionals and community representatives on the framework for a joint presidential candidate to challenge President William Ruto in 2027.
“From Monday, I’ll come in Wamunyoro village for 45 days to start exhaustive and extensive consultations with my supporters and opinion leaders and stakeholders on the formula of identifying a single presidential candidate to face President William Ruto,” Gachagua declared.
Legal dispute over impeachment ruling
The High Court judgment delivered on June 8, 2026, by Justices Eric Ogola, Freda Mugambi and Anthony Mrima upheld Gachagua’s impeachment but found that the Senate violated his right to a fair hearing.
The court awarded him Ksh50 million in damages for breach of constitutional rights, especially under Article 50.
Gachagua rejected the outcome, saying it contradicts itself.
“It is lost on all of us how the actions of Parliament, found unconstitutional and unfair, can then be upheld as valid,” he said. “Those contradictions are an abuse to the intelligence of the people of Kenya.”
He argued that once the court found violations of Articles 25, 47 and 50 of the Constitution, the impeachment process became void.
“There was no impeachment. This was a constitutional violation,” he said.
Gachagua said he received calls from Kenyans, including a retired principal, warning that overturning the impeachment could create a constitutional crisis.
“The retired principal called me last night,” he said. “He said if the impeachment is vacated, there will be a constitutional crisis because there will be two deputy presidents.”
He also shared an analogy from a young Kenyan to explain what he called contradictions in the judgment.
“She told me it is like a man jailed unfairly while another man takes his wife. The court later finds the jail term was wrong but says the man cannot go home because another man is already there,” he said.
Eligibility to vie for presidency
Gachagua dismissed claims that the ruling affects his eligibility to run for president in 2027.
He insisted that Article 99 of the Constitution protects his political rights until all appeals are exhausted.
“There is no legal barrier to my candidature unless and until all appeals are completed,” he said. “I will be on the ballot on 10 August 2027.”
Political mobilisation and Wamunyoro strategy
Gachagua said he began consultations in Wamunyoro after his removal from office in October 2024, where he engaged more than 15,000 people across different groups, including youth, clergy, professionals and business leaders.
He said those consultations led to the formation of the Democratic Change Party (DCP), which he described as a growing political force.
“The mountain is united,” he said. “We now have a strong party with support across the country.”
He added that a six-member caucus of elders, professionals and clergy now advises him on political and economic matters.
Following the High Court ruling, he said the caucus met virtually and advised him to focus on leadership consolidation rather than mass mobilisation.
“They told me the work of political mobilisation to remove President William Ruto is complete,” he said. “Now we focus on identifying a single presidential candidate.”
Ksh50 million award rejected
Gachagua dismissed the court-ordered compensation, saying it does not address the core issue.
“The Ksh50 million is an insult to my rights and a mockery of the Constitution,” he said. “We are not interested. Justice was the issue, not money.”
He also repeated claims that he rejected a reported Ksh2 billion offer to step aside during impeachment proceedings.
“If I were interested in money, I would have taken it,” he said. “But I stood firm for my rights and the rights of Kenyans.”
Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot said the Senate will also appeal parts of the High Court ruling, especially on fair hearing.
“As the Senate, we shall definitely appeal the High Court’s finding on fair trial,” Cheruiyot said in a statement on X.
He maintained that Gachagua was given adequate opportunity to defend himself during impeachment proceedings.
“He was heard orally and through written submissions,” he said. “He chose to delay the process, and we declined.”