Malala: Gachagua qualifies to run for any office
Democracy for Citizens Party deputy leader Cleophas Malala has said that former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua remains qualified to contest any elective office despite the ongoing impeachment process.
Speaking during a TV interview on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, Malala clarified that under Article 56 of the Constitution, every individual is presumed innocent until proven guilty. He noted that Gachagua’s impeachment is still under review and no final determination has been made.
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“Article 56 presumption of innocence: everyone shall be presumed to be innocent until proven guilty, and the matter of Rigathi’s impeachment is still being adjudicated in case it finds him guilty or the process of impeachment was duly procedural, then he does not qualify to run for office, but as it stands right now, Rigathi Gachagua qualifies to run for any office,” Malala said.
Malala emphasised that unless the process finds Gachagua guilty and all avenues for appeal are exhausted, there is no legal ground barring him from seeking public office. He insisted that Gachagua continue to enjoy his rights under the Bill of Rights as the legal process unfolds.
“Because he is proven guilty and has exhausted all appeal mechanisms, he still enjoys the rights under the Bill of Rights,” he added.
Gachagua’s remarks
This comes a day after Gachagua, while speaking to Kenyans during his USA tour, on Monday, July 21, 2025, said that he remains a key contender in the race for the opposition ticket, adding that he believes he has the best chances to become president.
The former DP emphasised that he would sacrifice his own ambitions and fully support whoever the process selected, adding that the opposition will name its presidential candidate in December 2026.
“I am a frontrunner, and I think I have the best chances to be president. I want to give you a commitment: if the formula does not favour me to send William Ruto home, I will sacrifice my ambitions and support whoever the formula favours.
United opposition
The former deputy president added that they are united and that the opposition leaders, including figures such as Kalonzo Musyoka, Eugene Wamalwa, Martha Karua, Fred Matiang’i, George Natembeya, Okiyo Omtatah, and others, have agreed to hold internal primaries early next year to present a single candidate capable of challenging Ruto head-on.
“Tumekibaliana mimi niko hapo, Kalonzo ako hapo, Matiang’i ako hapo, Eugune Wamalwa ako hapo. Martha Karua ako hapo, Natembeya ako, hata Omtatah na yule mtu yeyote anataka kuwa raisi. Tumesema kila mtu aende atafute kura zake, na pale mwisho next year hapo after Christmas, tuketi tuweke kura kwa meza, tuulizane nani atapeperusha bendera as one candidate only against William Ruto,” he added.
