People’s Liberation Party leader Martha Karua has argued that former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua remains eligible to contest the presidency in 2027 despite the recent High Court ruling that upheld his impeachment, saying the legal process is not yet exhausted.

Speaking to a local television station on Sunday, June 14, 2026, Karua said Gachagua’s right to seek elective office cannot be curtailed while his appeal remains pending before higher courts.

She drew parallels with President William Ruto and former President Uhuru Kenyatta, who contested the presidency in 2013 while facing cases at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague.

“How did Ruto and Uhuru run for president when they were facing Hague charges?” Karua posed.

“If he appeals as he has already indicated, then until he exhausts the process, who knows, the appeal may find in his favour. So long as he has given a notice of appeal, you cannot take away eligibility.”

Karua’s remarks come days after a three-judge bench of the High Court upheld Gachagua’s impeachment, finding that both the National Assembly and the Senate acted within the Constitution and afforded him an adequate opportunity to defend himself during the proceedings.

The court dismissed petitions challenging the former deputy president’s removal from office and ruled that Parliament had followed the required constitutional procedures, including public participation and oversight obligations.

Gachagua was impeached in October 2024 after both Houses of Parliament upheld several charges against him, making him the first deputy president in Kenya’s history to be removed from office through impeachment. The accusations included gross violation of the Constitution, abuse of office, promoting divisive politics and conduct deemed incompatible with the office he held, allegations he has consistently denied.

Following last week’s judgment, Gachagua’s legal team filed a notice of appeal and indicated that they would challenge the decision at the Court of Appeal. His lawyers have already sought certified copies of the proceedings and judgment to facilitate the appeal process.

The question of whether the impeachment automatically bars Gachagua from future elective office has generated intense legal and political debate.

Law Society of Kenya President Charles Kanjama recently argued that Gachagua remains eligible to seek public office until all appellate mechanisms have been exhausted. According to Kanjama, Article 99(3) of the Constitution contemplates the completion of the appeals process before disqualification from elective office becomes final.

The High Court ruling also contained findings that parts of Gachagua’s rights were violated during the impeachment process, although the judges ultimately allowed the impeachment outcome to stand, creating what some legal experts have described as unresolved questions regarding the full consequences of the decision.

As Gachagua prepares to pursue his appeal, the matter is expected to remain a significant issue in Kenya’s evolving political landscape, particularly as political parties begin positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 General Election.

Should the Court of Appeal overturn the High Court’s decision, the ruling could have major implications for Gachagua’s political future and the broader interpretation of impeachment-related disqualifications under the Constitution.