Gachagua Demands Over Sh80 Million In Compensation As He Drops Bid For Reinstatement Following 2024 Impeachment
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua appeared before the High Court at Milimani Law Courts on Monday accompanied by his wife Dorcas Rigathi. He has shifted his legal strategy in the ongoing challenge against his October 2024 impeachment by abandoning any demand to be restored to office.
Gachagua now seeks a court declaration that the impeachment process was unconstitutional together with substantial financial compensation for the benefits and remuneration he claims he lost. His legal team led by senior counsel Paul Muite presented the amended position before a three-judge bench.
The former deputy president has calculated his claim based on the 35 months he would have continued serving until the end of the current term. He is demanding more than Sh80 million in special damages covering unpaid salary and related allowances plus full retirement benefits as provided under the law governing deputy presidents and designated state officers.
Breakdown of the special damages includes Sh42 million as salary for the remaining period at a monthly rate of Sh1.2 million. The claim further covers Sh22.8 million in gratuity calculated at 31 percent of the salary alongside Sh700000 in airtime allowance at Sh20000 per month. Additional components encompass medical cover and official transport allowances for the full 35 months.
On the retirement benefits side Gachagua is pursuing a monthly pension of approximately Sh980000 which represents 80 percent of his final salary while in office. He also wants a one-off payment of around Sh14 million equivalent to one full year of salary.
Beyond monetary payments the petition includes demands for two government-funded saloon cars one with an engine capacity of up to 2000cc and another up to 3000cc with replacements every four years at government expense. He further seeks a monthly fuel allowance of Sh180000 full medical cover for treatment both locally and abroad two drivers one personal assistant two cooks two cleaners and armed security guards. The claim extends to diplomatic passports for Gachagua and his wife as well as VIP lounge access at all airports in Kenya.
Gachagua's lawyers argued that Parliament processed the impeachment at lightning speed even sitting late into the night which denied him adequate time to prepare his defence. They defended his previous public remarks concerning shareholding and Mt Kenya stating that the reference to Mt Kenya meant the physical mountain and not any ethnic community noting that the name Kenya itself derives from the mountain.
The legal team told the court that the case now centres on quashing the unconstitutional impeachment and securing payment of all remuneration and benefits Gachagua would otherwise have earned plus associated damages. The three-judge bench heard the submissions as the matter continues.