The fallout from former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s impeachment is already shaking up Kenya’s political scene. This comes after the High Court backed Parliament’s decision to remove him from office back in 2024.
For Gachagua, the ruling brings a lot of uncertainty, especially when it comes to his dream of one day becoming President. The court’s decision effectively locks him out of any public office job. That means, for now at least, his presidential ambitions are on hold.
He had positioned himself as a key figure in the opposition, but now he finds himself walking a path that looks all too familiar. Former governors Mike Sonko and Ferdinand Waititu went through similar experiences, and their political careers never really recovered. Gachagua is now the latest name on that growing list of political casualties.
But even with all of this against him, it would be a mistake to write him off just yet. Gachagua has already filed an appeal, so the legal battle is not over. However, if the impeachment is finally confirmed at every stage of the legal process, the opposition will lose one of its strongest soldiers.
That said, this difficult moment could actually open the door to a new kind of role for the former Mathira Member of Parliament. Instead of being a candidate, he could become a kingmaker.
Why? Because Gachagua and his DCP party still enjoy a lot of support, especially in the Mt Kenya region. That gives him real political weight. He may not be in office, but he still has the power to influence who gets there.
As the opposition continues to focus on unseating President William Ruto, many people will be watching closely to see who Gachagua decides to back. The fight for his endorsement is likely to heat up very quickly.
Many of his supporters see him as a victim of a ruling that has split legal experts right down the middle. In their eyes, he was treated unfairly. That sense of sympathy could make his endorsement even more valuable.
Looking ahead, Gachagua seems to be entering a strange new political space. Two labels are likely to define his next chapter: "underdog" and "kingmaker". He may have lost his official position, but his influence is far from finished.
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