Homa Bay Town Member of Parliament (MP) Peter Kaluma insists the former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is ineligible for public office following impeachment.

The lawmaker has dismissed Rigathi Gachagua’s re-entry into national politics, arguing that the former deputy president is constitutionally barred from holding public office.

In a strongly worded post on his X handle on Friday, May 16, 2025, Kaluma said Gachagua’s continued political activity is futile, citing his impeachment by Parliament.

Having been impeached by Parliament, Gachagua will never hold public office, whether elective or appointive, period.
His active engagement in public is all drama and vanity. He is leading his headless flock to nowhere.
Repost until it reaches Gachagua and his headless flock, and… pic.twitter.com/POlSgfmkOa

— Hon. George Peter Kaluma, CBS. MP. (Commentaries) (@gpdkaluma) May 16, 2025

“Having been impeached by Parliament, Gachagua will never hold public office, whether elective or appointive, period,” Kaluma said, adding, “His active engagement in public is all drama and vanity. He is leading his headless flock to nowhere.”

The MP, now a vocal proponent of a broad-based government, urged his followers to “repost until it reaches Gachagua and his flocks,” saying he would ‘follow them, pap!’ once it does.

Court ruling

Kaluma’s remarks came less than a week after Gachagua scored a legal win in the Court of Appeal, which ruled that Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu erred in assigning a three-judge bench to hear cases related to Gachagua’s impeachment.

The appellate court declared that only the Chief Justice has the constitutional mandate to empanel such benches under Article 165(4) of the Constitution. The decision quashed an earlier directive by DCJ Mwilu to assign Justices Eric Ogola, Anthony Mrima, and Freidah Mugambi to the matter.

The ruling was widely interpreted by Gachagua’s allies as a green light for him to resume political engagement. On Thursday, May 15, Gachagua unveiled a new political outfit, the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP), at its headquarters in Lavington, Nairobi. The party’s slogan, Skiza Wakenya (Listen to Kenyans), seeks to challenge President William Ruto’s hustler narrative by positioning Gachagua as a more responsive leader.

Political reactions intensify

Kaluma’s sharp rebuttal signals growing tension among political factions as the 2027 general election looms. While Gachagua has insisted his new party will give Kenyans “a government by the people for the people,” critics like Kaluma see the move as political posturing by a man they believe is legally disqualified.

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The developments have sparked fresh debate on leadership, accountability, and the scope of impeachment in barring future political participation.

Gachagua has yet to respond to Kaluma’s remarks.