Joe Nyutu: Gachagua still maintains his ambition to be president
By Ndiritu Wanjiru, June 9, 2026Murang’a Senator Joe Nyutu has defended former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s political future, insisting that he remains eligible to pursue the presidency as he continues to challenge his impeachment through the courts.
Speaking on the matter in a local TV interview on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, Nyutu has argued that Gachagua has not exhausted all available legal channels to overturn what he termed an “illegal and unconstitutional impeachment”, emphasising that the matter is still active within Kenya’s appellate system.
“Gachagua still maintains his ambition to be president. He will move to the Court of Appeal, and if he doesn’t get a favourable judgement, he will proceed to the Supreme Court. He was eligible and still is eligible because he hasn’t exhausted all the legal remedies and avenues to quash this illegal and unconstitutional impeachment,” Nyutu said.
The senator maintained that the former deputy president’s legal and political rights remain intact until the judiciary delivers a final determination on the impeachment dispute. According to him, the ongoing appeals process means that Gachagua’s political future is still legally open, including his reported presidential ambitions.
The remarks come amid heightened political debate over the implications of Gachagua’s impeachment and whether it permanently bars him from holding elective office or pursuing higher political ambitions.
Gachagua to challenge ruling at appeal court
Following the decision of the High Court that upheld the impeachment of the former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua, his lawyer and Kirinyaga Woman Representative and lawyer Njeri Maina described the High Court’s decision to uphold the impeachment of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua as “gravely disappointing”, saying the legal team will challenge the judgement at the Court of Appeal.
Speaking to journalists outside Milimani Law Courts shortly after the ruling on Monday, June 8, 2026, Maina said Gachagua had accepted the outcome peacefully and urged his supporters to remain calm as the legal process continues.
“He’s a peace-loving Kenyan. He has called upon all his supporters to accept whatever outcome of today’s judgement, knowing that we shall proceed to the Court of Appeal and maintain peace and order so that we can give our institutions sufficient time to interrogate this judgement today,” Njeri said.
High Court ruling on impeachment
The ruling was delivered by a three-judge bench comprising Justices Eric Ogola, Anthony Mrima and Freda Mugambi. The court upheld Gachagua’s October 2024 impeachment, finding that the Senate’s standing orders and the overall impeachment process met the constitutional threshold.
The judges dismissed consolidated petitions challenging the impeachment and also validated President William Ruto’s nomination of Professor Kithure Kindiki as Deputy President.
However, the bench found that the Senate violated Gachagua’s right to a fair hearing when it declined requests to adjourn proceedings on medical grounds.
The judges stated that while Parliament has constitutional authority to remove state officers from office, such powers must be exercised in a manner that respects due process and constitutional safeguards.
As a result of the finding, the court awarded Gachagua Ksh50 million in damages to be paid by the Senate.
Addressing the award, Maina maintained that the case was never about compensation.