- Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua claims the state is scheming to oust Supreme Court judges before the 2027 elections.
- Gachagua accuses President William Ruto of funding a smear campaign to replace the current bench with loyalists.
- Chief Justice Martha Koome recently reported the withdrawal of her security as a threat to judicial independence.
- Prominent lawyers Ahmednasir Abdullahi and Nelson Havi are pursuing petitions for the removal of Supreme Court judges.
Speaking during a church service in Meru on Sunday, January 26, 2025, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua accused the government of orchestrating a plan to weaken the Judiciary before the 2027 General Election.
Gachagua alleged that a state-funded smear campaign against the Supreme Court judges is underway to force their removal. According to him, the plot involves replacing the current bench with judges loyal to President William Ruto’s administration.
“There is a bigger scheme to dismantle the Supreme Court ahead of the 2027 elections. A budget has been set aside through the National Intelligence Service (NIS), and the petitions you are seeing against Chief Justice Martha Koome and Supreme Court judges are the machinations of the state,” Gachagua claimed.
Chief Justice’s Security Concerns
Chief Justice Martha Koome recently expressed alarm over the withdrawal of her security detail, describing it as a threat to judicial independence. In a letter to Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen and Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, Koome expressed concern over the Judiciary Police Unit’s weakened capacity, citing the removal of a significant number of officers.
Gachagua’s claims come amid petitions filed by lawyers Ahmednasir Abdullahi and Nelson Havi seeking the removal of Supreme Court judges, including Chief Justice Koome. The lawyers accused the judges of misbehavior and abuse of office.
The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) confirmed receipt of the petitions and assured that the matter would be handled per the rule of law and established procedures.
Call for International Oversight
Gachagua called on the international community to observe Kenya’s political developments, warning of the risk of dictatorship if the Judiciary is “captured” following alleged state control of parliament and opposition.
“We will not accept, and we want to ask the international community to keep an eye on Kenya because parliament and opposition have been captured. If they capture the Judiciary, this country would slip into a dictatorship,” Gachagua warned.
The claims by Rigathi Gachagua, coupled with Chief Justice Koome’s recent concerns and ongoing petitions against Supreme Court judges, highlight mounting tensions over judicial independence in Kenya. As the 2027 elections draw closer, these developments are likely to fuel further political debate and scrutiny.
