Martha Karua Defends Rigathi Gachagua’s Right To Run In 2027

Narc-Kenya and People’s Liberation Party leader Martha Karua has thrown her legal and political weight behind former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, insisting that his recent impeachment does not automatically lock him out of the 2027 General Election.

Speaking during an interview on Citizen TV’s Sunday Live show on June 14, 2026, the veteran constitutional lawyer argued that as long as Gachagua actively pursues judicial appeals to challenge his ouster, his eligibility to contest for any public office—including the presidency—remains legally protected.

The Precedent of Constitutional Due Process

Responding to the fierce public debate regarding Chapter Six of the Constitution on Leadership and Integrity, Karua emphasized that a declaration of impeachment is not a final death sentence for a politician’s career if it is subjected to an active appellate process.

“So long as he has given a notice of appeal, you can’t take away eligibility,” Karua stated firmly. “Before one exhausts the appeal… if he doesn’t appeal, then he will become ineligible. But if he appeals, like he has already indicated, then until he exhausts—and who knows, the appeal may find in his favor.”

To ground her argument, the former Justice Minister drew historical parallels to the watershed 2013 General Election, reminding viewers that the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) and the courts have historically tilted toward the presumption of innocence and the exhaustion of legal remedies.

“How did Ruto and Uhuru run for president when they were facing Hague charges?” she posed, referencing the complex legal hurdles the duo bypassed while facing crimes against humanity charges at the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Parliament is Independent, But Not Absolute

While Karua clarified that she is not acting as Gachagua’s official legal adviser, she noted that the operational precedent maintained by Kenyan courts and electoral management bodies dictates that a politician’s rights cannot be truncated midway through litigation.

Gachagua, who was removed from office through a highly charged Senate impeachment vote, has already launched multiple judicial reviews to overturn the verdict. Karua warned that the ongoing legal battle should serve as a stern lesson to the bicameral house on the absolute necessity of procedural perfection.

“It means that Parliament has to be very careful to follow due process,” Karua cautioned. “Even when you say that Parliament is independent, they are independent in making decisions, but once they make it, it can be scrutinized and audited by the courts.”

According to the Senior Counsel, this system of checks and balances is the bedrock of Kenya’s constitutional democracy, meaning that any rushed or politically motivated action taken by either Parliament or the Presidency remains fully subject to being invalidated or affirmed by a court of law.