NAIROBI, Kenya – Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has withdrawn his bid to be reinstated to office, and now wants the court to award him damages for what he terms as an unlawful impeachment.
In a fresh twist to the ongoing legal battle, Gachagua—through his lawyer Paul Muite—informed the High Court that he is seeking leave to amend his original petition, abandoning the request for reinstatement and instead pursuing compensation equivalent to what he would have earned had he completed his five-year term.
“The petitioner wishes to challenge the legality of his impeachment and will be seeking leave to amend the prayers,” said Muite. “He will be asking for the money he would have earned had he served the full five-year term.”
The former Deputy President, who was ousted from office last year in a historic vote, is now framing the matter as a personal legal grievance rather than a constitutional test case.
Muite urged the court to treat the petition as a private dispute with no overarching public interest implications.
“This petition is not a matter of public interest. It is a personal matter that directly affects the petitioner, who is the one impeached,” he said.
Muite also told the court that no interlocutory applications will be filed and asked for the earliest possible hearing date.
Gachagua’s impeachment sent shockwaves through the political landscape and continues to stir debate over the legal and political thresholds for removing a sitting Deputy President.
