Former Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala has said that ex-Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua qualifies to run for any office.
Speaking during an interview with Citizen TV on Tuesday, the former United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Secretary General said the matter regarding Gachagua's impeachment is still being challenged in court.
He noted that if the court finds the process of impeachment was duly executed, then Gachagua will be barred from contesting.
"As it stands, Rigathi Gachagua qualifies to run for any office. Until he is proven guilty and has exhausted all appeal mechanisms, he still enjoys the rights, just like any other Kenyan, to vie for any office," Malala said.
The DCP leader is currently in the United States to woo the diaspora. Malala said the former Deputy President travelled to the US to sell his candidature and mobilise support for his political movement.
Gachagua was impeached by the National Assembly on October 8, 2024, on 11 separate charges. The impeachment motion was tabled by Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse.
Despite the impeachment, Gachagua declared his intention to vie for the presidency in 2027. He said that although he was removed from office, he has not yet exhausted all legal channels as provided for in the Constitution.
Further, Gachagua has said that he will sacrifice his presidential ambition if the system agreed upon by the opposition to pick a candidate for 2027 does not favour him.
Speaking in the United States of America, where he is currently mobilising for support and opening satellite offices for his new party, Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP), Gachagua said that he is one of the individuals seeking to fly the opposition’s flag in the 2027 presidential elections.
He went on to say that he has the best chance to become president among all contenders, but is also ready to back anyone the opposition will agree on.
“I am a front runner and I think I have the best chances to be President, but I want to give you a commitment that if the formula does favour me to send Ruto home, I will sacrifice my ambition to support whoever the system favours,” Gachagua said.
