Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) Leader Rigathi Gachagua qualifies to run for any elective office in 2027, this is according to Cleophas Malala.
Malala says that Gachagua is eligible to run for office despite being impeached from his position as the deputy president, owing to the fact that the matter is still being challenged in court.
“As it stands, Rigathi Gachagua qualifies to run for any office,” the former Kakamega Senator, who is also the DCP Deputy Leader, said in an interview with Citizen TV on Tuesday, July 22.
In October 2024, the Senate upheld the impeachment of then-Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua by the National Assembly, and voted to remove him from office on grounds of various violation of the constitution as well as abuse of office charges.
What does the law say?
Article 75(3) of the Constitution bars a person who is removed from office for violation of the integrity provisions of Chapter Six from holding any other state or public office.
However, Malala insists that “Until he is proven guilty and exhausted all appeal mechanisms, then he will still enjoy the rights to vie for any office.”
During the interview, Malala also said that Gachagua is currently in the United States to woo the dispora vote ahead of the 2027 political duel.
“Gachagua has gone to the U.S to sell his candidature and mobilize people behind his political movement.”
‘I am a frontrunner’
Gachagua has since declared himself the frontrunner in the race to fly the opposition’s presidential flag in 2027 polls. He insists that amongst the opposition figures, he is the one with most political capital and national support to unseat President William Ruto.
“I am the frontrunner, and I think I have the best chance to be president,” he spoke in Boston during a diaspora engagement and the launch of DCP satellite offices at the Well of Worship Hall in Massachusetts.
He added: “We have not settled on anybody. There’s only one thing that has been agreed on—and it’s Wantam…Everyone who wants to be president has been told: go and look for your votes. Mobilize your supporters. After Christmas next year, we will meet and decide who carries the flag—just one candidate to face William Ruto.”
