Former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua has made explosive allegations against his former boss, President William Ruto. The former DP revealed details of his private talks with President William Ruto. Gachagua claimed the head of state has schemed to remove Chief Justice Martha Koome and dismantle the Supreme Court bench to gain control over the Judiciary. In a tell-it-all interview with KTN News on Monday, February 24, Gachagua revealed shocking details about Ruto’s alleged plans to manipulate the Judiciary for political gain. . Gachagua claims against Ruto Gachagua, who served as Ruto’s deputy before their fallout, sensationally claimed that Ruto had long expressed frustration with Koome, accusing her of refusing to be compromised. According to Gachagua, Ruto repeatedly complained about Koome’s independence, even blaming him for failing to ‘manage’ her as a native of the Mt Kenya region. “President William Ruto schemed a long time ago to remove Justice Martha Koome as Chief Justice and President of the Supreme Court because of refusing to be compromised. He shared with me and many times he even quarrelled me that a daughter from the mountain is being problematic and accused me of being unable to manage Martha Koome to do things the way the President wants and I told him it’s not possible,” he alleged. Gachagua described Koome as a strict adherent to the rule of law and constitutionalism, praising her qualifications and integrity.
However, he alleged that Ruto’s plans to remove her were only delayed until Gachagua was ousted from office. What is Ruto’s plan as per Gachagua The former deputy president claimed that Ruto’s ambitions extended beyond removing Koome from the head of the Judiciary. Former DP Rigathi Gachagua urged Kenyans to be wary of Ruto’s actions. Photo: Rigathi Gachagua. Source: Facebook He alleged that the president sought to disband the entire Supreme Court bench and replace it with judges who would align with his interests. “He has pronounced himself and I have told you, he did in my presence, that we must have a Supreme Court that we control. In fact, he told me, that once you are president, it is very irresponsible for you to lose an election. You must control the election from IEBC all the way to the Supreme Court and the president is determined and I know him,” he stated. Gachagua expressed disbelief at the time, admitting he initially thought the head of state’s statements were a joke.
“I must tell the people of Kenya because in fact initially, I thought it was a joke. I never imagined that any president anywhere in the world would ever want to disband an entire bench of the Supreme Court,” the former DP stated. Gachagua accuses Ruto of state capture Gachagua warned that Ruto’s alleged plans could lead to a complete state capture, with the judiciary becoming the final frontier. He accused the president of using his influence in the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) to orchestrate the removal of judges through predetermined proceedings. “The President has the numbers in the Judicial Service Commission so any proceedings against Justice Martha Kome and the seven judges and the other six judges will just be a kangaroo court. It will just be like what happened to me in the Senate and the National Assembly. It will be predetermined,” he explained.
He further alleged that Ruto would set up a tribunal to try the judges, with the verdict already decided. “The President will thereafter set up a tribunal himself and he will determine the outcome. So what we are looking at, I’m not just defending Justice Martha Koome, it’s the entire bench of the Supreme Court,” the former Mathira MP alleged. Gachagua called on Kenyans and the international community to remain vigilant, warning that Ruto’s alleged plans would undermine democracy and the rule of law. What is Gachagua’s warning to Ruto On Sunday, February 23, the former deputy president claimed that the plot to remove Koome was part of a scheme to destabilise the Mt Kenya region ahead of the 2027 General Election. Gachagua warned that if Koome were ousted, Ruto would not be welcome in Meru county. He vowed to lead protests against Koome’s removal and urged Mt Kenya residents to reject leaders supporting Ruto’s administration.
by Didacus Malowa
