Former Nyeri Town MP Ngunjiri Wambugu has raised fresh questions over former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s ongoing court battle over his impeachment and the compensation he is seeking from the government.
In a public comment shared online, Wambugu questioned why Gachagua would pursue financial compensation after exiting office, while at the same time maintaining a strong political attack against the current administration and Deputy President Kithure Kindiki.
“I also hear Gachagua has asked for Sh450 million and does not want the DP job back. Maybe now he can stop insulting Kindiki,” Wambugu said.
Gachagua was impeached in 2024 after Parliament and the Senate upheld several charges, including alleged constitutional violations and abuse of office.
He has denied the accusations and moved to court challenging both the process and the outcome, arguing that his removal was unconstitutional and politically driven.
However, his legal approach has since shifted. Instead of seeking reinstatement, he is now asking the court to declare the impeachment invalid and award him compensation for the remainder of his expected term, which would have run until 2027.
Court documents and earlier reports indicate that his claim includes unpaid salary, gratuity, allowances, pension benefits, and other entitlements linked to the office of Deputy President.
The total amount being discussed publicly is estimated in the hundreds of millions of shillings.
Wambugu questioned the basis of the claim, arguing that it contradicts Gachagua’s earlier public statements that he left government due to dissatisfaction with its conduct.
“Since he claims he left this government because it was doing such terrible things, why would he still want to be paid for having left?” he posed.
He further said there is a contradiction between the legal arguments being presented in court and the political messaging Gachagua continues to deliver in public forums, including church events and roadside rallies.
According to Wambugu, the two positions may end up working against each other in court as the case progresses.
“The legal arguments he will use in court are at complete loggerheads with the political narratives he continues to weave in churches and on top of cars,” he said.
He also suggested that Gachagua’s strategy places him in a difficult position, adding that the legal and political dimensions of the case may not easily align.
Despite his criticism, Wambugu said that if the legal threshold is met, the government may still be required to pay the compensation being sought.
“But in my honest opinion, government should actually pay him the Sh450 million he is asking for,” he added.
The case remains active in court and continues to attract public debate, with attention focused on both the legality of the impeachment process and the wider implications of compensation claims following removal from high office.