Sabina Chege has weighed in on the ongoing debate about the political future of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
Speaking during an interview on TV47, Chege argued that the impeachment of Gachagua does not automatically lock him out of the 2027 presidential contest.
Chege explained that under the law, a leader who has been impeached can still seek higher office if their legal appeals are ongoing. According to her, unless all avenues of appeal have been exhausted, Gachagua has room to present his candidacy in the next General Election.
“I think unless all appeal processes have been fully concluded, Rigathi Gachagua may still have a chance to vie in 2027,” Chege noted.
She pointed to past political cases as examples. The former Murang’a woman representative recalled how former Nairobi governor Mike Sonko, despite being impeached, was cleared at the last minute to run in 2022. She also mentioned other leaders who faced similar hurdles but eventually found themselves on the ballot.
Chege further cited the case of Sirisia MP John Waluke, who contested an election while still facing corruption charges. At the time of his clearance, he had not yet been sentenced or imprisoned, making him legally fit to seek office.
For Chege, these cases show that the courts and electoral bodies sometimes clear leaders despite legal challenges. She stressed the need for judicial matters touching on leaders’ integrity to be handled quickly, saying unresolved cases create confusion and weaken the electoral process.
Her remarks come after Gachagua recently declared his intention to run for president in 2027, a move that has stirred debate across the political scene.
Questions have been raised on whether his impeachment would disqualify him, but Chege believes that as long as the courts have not finalized the matter, Gachagua remains eligible to contest.
