By Spy Uganda Correspondent
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has filed a petition to stop President William Ruto from appointing a new Deputy President following his impeachment by the Senate.
Gachagua, through his legal team Kamotho Njomo & Company, is seeking to prevent the National Assembly from proceeding with discussions, vetting, voting, or approving a new nominee for the position.
In his petition, Gachagua raised concerns about the rapid pace at which Parliament was moving to replace him, questioning the urgency behind the process.
“There has been a demonstrated urgency to remove the Deputy President from office and install another person, which may be done hurriedly with a view to frustrating the Deputy President, hence the urgency to hear this petition and the application,” the petition reads in part.
On Friday, President William Ruto submitted Interior CS Kithure Kindiki’s nomination to the National Assembly for approval as Deputy President. However, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has filed a petition to block this appointment.
Through his legal team, Gachagua is seeking to stop the National Assembly from proceeding with discussions, vetting, or approving Kindiki’s nomination.
In his petition, Gachagua also requested the courts to order the deletion or correction of any inaccurate information in his impeachment motions. He called on the Chief Justice to appoint an uneven panel of judges to hear his case, criticizing the Senate’s trial process and arguing that the 11 charges in the impeachment motion lacked credible evidence.
Referencing a 2015 Court of Appeal ruling that nullified former Embu Governor Martin Wambora’s impeachment due to insufficient evidence, Gachagua expressed confidence in his legal challenge.
He also faulted Parliament for failing to conduct adequate public participation, despite a High Court ruling requiring the exercise to be conducted at the constituency level.
“This express order of the court was disregarded by the Senate,” the petition read in part.
Gachagua has now filed a fourth petition aimed at stopping the nomination and approval of Interior CS Kithure Kindiki as his replacement. Gachagua’s legal team, along with Sheria Mtaani and lawyer Shadrack Wambui, have lodged applications seeking to prevent both President William Ruto and the National Assembly from proceeding with the appointment.
Lawyer Danstan Omari, representing the lobby group Sheria Mtaani, argues that Gachagua was not given a fair opportunity to defend himself against the impeachment charges. The group is requesting the court to halt the process based on claims of unfair administration.
So far, four petitions have been submitted to the Milimani Law Courts, all contesting the legality of Gachagua’s impeachment and the subsequent move to fill the Deputy President position.
