Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua has declined a Ksh 50 million compensation awarded by the High Court, dismissing it as inadequate and a misrepresentation of the constitutional issues at stake. The High Court, in its ruling delivered on Monday, upheld Gachagua’s impeachment but directed the Senate to compensate him with Ksh 50 million for violating his right to a fair hearing during the process.
Addressing the media a day later, the former Deputy President maintained that his legal battle has never been about financial gain, but rather about defending the Constitution and protecting the rights of Kenyans. Gachagua argued that the monetary award does not address what he described as a fundamental breach of justice. He insisted that no amount of money could compensate for the violation of constitutional rights, emphasizing that his fight is rooted in principle rather than personal benefit.
He further alleged that during his time in office, he was offered Ksh 2 billion to step down and avoid impeachment—an offer he claims to have rejected in order to stand by his values and the mandate given to him by millions of voters. According to Gachagua, the court’s decision to uphold the impeachment contradicts its own finding that his right to a fair hearing was violated. He questioned the logic of sustaining the outcome of a process that was deemed flawed, terming it a serious constitutional misstep.
He maintained that once the court established that due process had been breached, the entire impeachment process should have been nullified. Gachagua also announced that his legal team, led by Senior Counsel Paul Muite, will challenge the ruling at the Court of Appeal. The appeal will seek to overturn the decision, arguing that violations of constitutional provisions should automatically invalidate the impeachment process. He expressed confidence that the appellate court will deliver a more consistent interpretation of the law and uphold constitutional safeguards.
