By Mumo Judah, June 9, 2026
Kiambu Senator Karungo wa Thang’wa has sharply criticized the High Court’s decision upholding the impeachment of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, describing the ruling as contradictory and sarcastically suggesting it appeared to have been “generated by artificial intelligence.”
In a statement posted on his official X account following the June 8 judgment, the outspoken senator, who is one of Gachagua’s closest political allies, questioned how the court could acknowledge that the former deputy president’s constitutional rights had been violated and award him KSh50 million in damages, while at the same time declining to overturn his removal from office.
“This judgment must have been generated by AI. How can a court find that an individual’s rights were violated, award KSh50 million in compensation, yet still hold that the impeachment process was flawless?” Thang’wa wrote.
The three-judge bench found that Gachagua’s right to a fair hearing had been infringed during Senate proceedings and ordered compensation amounting to KSh50 million. However, the court stopped short of invalidating the impeachment, effectively leaving the former deputy president out of office.
The ruling has generated intense debate within political circles and among legal analysts, with supporters of Gachagua arguing that a finding of constitutional violations should have automatically led to the nullification of the impeachment process.
Thang’wa, however, maintained that the judgment was only a temporary setback and expressed confidence that the matter would ultimately be resolved at the appellate level.
“Anyway, the next stop is the Court of Appeal. That is the lifeline,” he said.
In a further display of political satire, the senator referred to the KSh50 million compensation and remarked, “And that KSh50 million, give it to Kasongo.”
“Kasongo” has become a popular nickname used by opposition figures and supporters aligned with Gachagua to refer to President William Ruto and his administration, particularly in criticism of taxation policies and government spending.
Thang’wa concluded his remarks by reiterating support for the “Wantam” movement, a campaign slogan adopted by allies of Gachagua aimed at ensuring that President Ruto serves only one term in office.
The High Court decision marked another chapter in the protracted legal battle stemming from Gachagua’s impeachment in 2024. Although Parliament removed him from office on grounds including alleged gross violations of the Constitution, the former deputy president has consistently challenged the process, arguing that it was politically motivated and procedurally flawed.
His legal team is expected to move to the Court of Appeal in a bid to overturn the ruling and revive his political ambitions ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The outcome of the appeal is likely to have far-reaching implications, not only for Gachagua’s future but also for the broader opposition landscape, which has increasingly rallied around him since his fallout with the Kenya Kwanza administration.
