Lawyer and Makueni Senator Dan Maanzo has warned that Kenya could face an unprecedented constitutional crisis involving two individuals claiming the office of deputy president following the High Court ruling in the impeachment case involving former DP Rigathi Gachagua.

Speaking during a televised interview on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, Maanzo claimed that the impeachment process was fundamentally flawed, claiming that it was influenced by state interference from the outset and failed to meet constitutional standards of fairness.

“The impeachment itself was manufactured as state interference from the beginning,” Maanzo said.

He argued that the legal dispute surrounding Gachagua’s removal from office has created uncertainty over the rightful holder of the Deputy President’s position, suggesting that the matter could escalate further in the appellate courts.

According to Maanzo, the courts have already identified concerns around due process, including claims that Gachagua was not accorded a fair hearing during the impeachment proceedings.

“Whether they like it or not, when we go to the Court of Appeal, because this is a law and an infringement has been found that Rigathi Gachagua has been condemned unheard,” he stated.

Supreme Court battle

Maanzo further predicted that the matter could ultimately reach the Supreme Court, where he believes a final determination will be made regarding the legitimacy of the impeachment process and its consequences.

“As soon as we clear the matter at the Supreme Court, we will surely have two deputy presidents in this country. That is the status we have found ourselves in,” he added.

Gachagua impeachment case ruling

His remarks come amid heightened political and legal debate surrounding Gachagua’s impeachment case, which has emerged as one of the most consequential constitutional disputes in recent years.

The High Court on Monday, June 8, 2026, upheld the impeachment of Gachagua but awarded him Ksh50 million in damages, finding that senators violated his right to a fair hearing during the proceedings.

In a judgement delivered at night, the court ruled that while the impeachment itself met the constitutional threshold and would stand, aspects of the process fell short of fair trial standards guaranteed under the Constitution.

The bench found that members of the Senate proceeded with hearings despite requests for an adjournment on medical grounds, concluding that the refusal to pause proceedings amounted to a violation of Gachagua’s right to a fair hearing.

The court said that although Parliament has broad constitutional authority to oversee and remove state officers, that power must be exercised in accordance with due process protections, including the right of an accused official to participate adequately in proceedings affecting their office and rights.

Gachagua to appeal the impeachment case judgement

Gachagua’s camp is expected to continue pursuing legal remedies as the matter advances through the appellate process.

Kirinyaga Woman Representative and lawyer Njeri Maina described the High Court’s decision to uphold the impeachment of 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,” she said. “He has called upon all his supporters to take whatever outcome of today’s judgment, 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 judgment today.”

The ruling was delivered by a three-judge bench comprising Justices Eric Ogola, Anthony Mrima and Freda Mugambi.