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Willis Otieno: Gachagua eligible to run for public office despite his impeachment
23rd July, 2025 06:42 AM
Lawyer and political analyst Willis Otieno has weighed in on the political future of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, maintaining that he remains eligible to vie for public office, including the presidency, despite his recent impeachment.
Speaking during a podcast aired on Tuesday night, July 22, 2025, Otieno clarified that Gachagua’s impeachment process has not reached its final legal conclusion.
As such, he argued, the former deputy president retains his constitutional right to contest for any elective position under Article 38 of the Constitution, which safeguards the political rights of every citizen.
“As things stand now that Gachagua has his case still pending in court, nothing bars him from contesting for the presidency; it’s his right under Article 38 of the constitution. Until his impeachment cases proceed to their logical conclusion, he still qualifies,” Otieno said.
According to Otieno, the fact that Gachagua’s case is still pending in court means there is no legal barrier preventing him from launching a presidential bid or participating in future elections. Until all avenues of appeal are exhausted and a conclusive determination is made, the former second-in-command qualifies to run for office.
His suitability
However, when it comes to his suitability for leadership, Otieno was firm that Gachagua cannot be the solution to Kenya’s current political and governance problems. In his view, there is no meaningful difference between Gachagua and his former boss, President William Ruto.
The two, he said, were cut from the same cloth—leaders who championed policies like the controversial Finance Bill that triggered nationwide protests and discontent. For Otieno, replacing one with the other would offer no real change to the status quo.
“What’s the difference between Rigathi Gachagua and William Ruto? We must discuss things brutally as they are. Up to June 25, 2024, Gachagua was William Ruto’s number 1 praise singer, cheering him on, telling the members of parliament that if you don’t pass the finance bill, you will not get roads,” he added.
This comes days after Gachagua announced that he is a front runner in the opposition team and that should he be given the ticket to face Ruto, it will be an early win for the opposition team.
