Kaluma questions Gachagua’s presidential ambitions, says impeachment bars him from office
Homa Bay Town Member of Parliament (MP) George Kaluma has openly challenged former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s political comeback, asserting that his impeachment disqualifies him from holding any public office, even the presidential office.
In a statement shared via his official X account on Monday, July 21, 2025, Kaluma emphasised that having been legally impeached, Gachagua is permanently barred from both elective and appointive public positions.
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“Does he know he is impeached and that this means he can’t hold any public office for life?” Kaluma questioned.
Gachagua on political comeback
This comes after Gachagua declared that his impeachment will not deter him from contesting the presidency in 2027, citing constitutional provisions that he believes permit him to seek office while his legal challenges remain unresolved.
In an exclusive interview aired on Weru TV on Sunday, April 27, 2025, Gachagua asserted that Kenya’s laws allow individuals facing criminal or impeachment-related proceedings to run for elective office, provided their cases have not been conclusively decided by the nation’s highest court.
He referenced the case of Sirisia Member of Parliament John Waluke, who contested and won reelection while appealing a conviction that initially handed him a 74-year prison sentence.
“Sheria inasema ya Kenya ya kwamba uko na haki ya kupigania kiti kama uko na kesi kotini na haijakamilika mbaka Supreme Court. John Waluke alifungwa 74 years. Akiwa amefungwa akaachiliwa na bond akasimama kiti ya Sirisia akapita akaendelea. Court of Appeal imemuondolea kesi. Kama sasa angekatazwa kusimama kwa sababu alikua na kesi alafu court of Appeal imuondolee kesi si angekua amenyimwa haki yake?,” Gachagua said.
Emphasising his intention to follow a similar path, Gachagua affirmed that he would proceed with his presidential campaign while his impeachment is contested in court.
“Kwa hivyo sheria yetu inasema kama huja exhaust the legal mechanism you are free to vie for any office. Kesi ya Rigathi Gachagua ata haijaanza, itaenda High Court kama haitaenda vile ninataka ama vile serikali inataka iende Court of Appeal. Kama haiendi vizuri tuende mbaka Supreme Court. Kabla haijamalizika na Supreme Court, Rigathi Gachagua atapigania kiti ya urais na atashinda na kura mingi sana,” Gachagua declared.
In a revealing glimpse into the opposition’s 2027 strategy, Gachagua disclosed that the current field of aspirants, which includes figures such as Martha Karua, Kalonzo Musyoka, Fred Matiang’i, and Eugene Wamalwa, would ultimately coalesce around a single candidate to challenge President William Ruto.
“Kila mtu anataka. Mimi napigania kiti cha urais, Martha Karua anapigania kiti cha urais, Kalonzo anapigania kiti cha urais, Matiang’i anapigania kiti cha urais, Eugene Wamalwa anapigania kiti cha urais na tunaendelea kutafuta kura. Pale mwisho tutaongea na sisi tutasikizana tutaachia mtu mmoja,” Gachagua disclosed.
