Journalist Kwamchetsi Makokha has questioned why former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua continues to intensify his political activities despite being impeached from office in 2024, arguing that his political ambitions could extend well beyond his current campaign against the Kenya Kwanza administration.
Gachagua was removed from office after the National Assembly approved an impeachment motion in October 2024 before the Senate upheld five of the 11 grounds brought against him.
His removal made him the first Kenyan Deputy President to be impeached and removed through the constitutional process.
Since then, Gachagua has remained politically active and has positioned himself as a prominent critic of President William Ruto's administration.
He has also established the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP), which has increasingly featured in discussions about Kenya's evolving opposition politics.
In his latest assessment, Makokha suggested that Gachagua's continued political mobilisation could be driven by calculations extending into the next presidential election cycle.
"After being impeached, the second deputy president is supposed to be politically dead, according to judicial precedent. He knows better," Makokha stated.
He argued that Gachagua's political history demonstrates his ability to survive major setbacks and emerge from difficult circumstances.
Makokha referred to the former Deputy President's legal troubles before the 2022 General Election, including the freezing of money in his bank accounts during an asset-recovery case.
He noted that the Asset Recovery Agency later withdrew its interest in the funds and returned the money.
The journalist used the episode to make a broader observation about Kenya's political system, arguing that political fortunes can change significantly depending on who holds power.
"He knows that in Kenya, the arc of justice bends towards power," Makokha said, while predicting that Gachagua's impeachment could eventually be overturned.
Makokha further suggested that Gachagua could use his political influence as leverage in negotiations with future political alliances.
"That is the deal he is going to extract for his support [to whoever can guarantee it]," he said, before projecting a possible 2032 contest involving Gachagua, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula and Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi.
His remarks come as Gachagua continues to build the DCP and court support across different parts of the country, particularly among voters in the Mt Kenya region.
Makokha also drew a historical comparison with former President Daniel arap Moi's handling of political rivals, citing the case of former Attorney General Charles Njonjo.
"From the Daniel Moi book of politics, when you finish an opponent, you must not leave opportunity for a second coming," he observed.
He argued that Gachagua's continued political survival demonstrates why political opponents who seek to eliminate a rival's influence must consider the possibility of a comeback.
For now, Gachagua's political future remains uncertain, but his continued mobilisation has ensured that his impeachment has not ended his role in Kenya's political debate.