President William Ruto intensified his push for unity even as the intrigues surrounding the impeachment of his former deputy Rigathi Gachagua continued at the courts.

Speaking in Lodwar, Turkana County on Friday, October 25, 2024, during the Tobong’u Lore Cultural Festival, Ruto urged for unity, saying it had ensured the Turkana women had representation in the cabinet.

“Hatutaki siasa ya ukabila; hatutaki siasa ya magawanyiko; hatutaki siasa ya ubaguzi. Tunataka tuungane kama watu wa taifa moja. Na nimesema kwa vyovyote, mbele nyuma, kulia na kushoto, nitafanya bidii kuunganisha wananchi wote wa taifa letu la Kenya ndio nguvu yetu na mipango yetu tuelekeze kwa kuhakikisha ya kwamba tunazalisha uchumi, nafasi za kazi na tunaondoa njaa,” Ruto said.

Loosely translated to: (We do not want the politics of tribalism, divisions and discrimination. We would like to unite as one nation. I have resolved that in whatever circumstance, I shall strive to unite all citizens of this nation of Kenya so that we channel all our energy and plans towards revamping the economy, creating job opportunities and alleviating famine

Impeachment cases

Gachagua was impeached on October 17, 2024, after the Senate voted to uphold a recommendation from the National Assembly to send him home on 11 grounds, sowing ethnic division among them.

At the time of his impeachment, Gachagua had been taken ill at the Karen Hospital and was unable to defend himself as he had earlier hinted.

His team of lawyers have lodged at least 30 cases since the impeachment, with the latest development resulting in the decision of a three-judge bench appointed by Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu not to recuse themselves from the case.

“The applications for recusal are hereby disallowed. The petitioners are hereby granted leave to file and serve amended petitions if need be, within five days of this order,” presiding judge of the bench Eric Ogola ruled on Friday, October 25, 2024.

Gachagua’s lawyers headed by Paul Muite and Ndegwa Njiru had argued that two of the judges in the bench- Anthony Mrima and Eric Ogola had close ties to some of the respondents in their petitions and they could not be impartial.

“The matter needs to be decided by a bench that has no question of bias. Please grant the application for recusal and allow another bench to be appointed to determine the issues,” Muite argued in court.

Ruto’s choice barred

The lawyers have also obtained orders barring Ruto’s replacement for Gachagua-Kithure Kindiki from assuming office.

After he was discharged from the Karen Hospital, Gachagua vowed to fight to the end, expressing his faith in the Judiciary.

In his case, Gachagua says his impeachment was out of political malice and that he was denied his fundamental right to be heard before the public participation and during the impeachment trial in the Senate.