{"id":7363,"date":"2026-06-10T11:38:04","date_gmt":"2026-06-10T11:38:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tandaomedia.co.ke\/?p=7363"},"modified":"2026-06-10T11:38:37","modified_gmt":"2026-06-10T11:38:37","slug":"tmg-55","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tandaomedia.co.ke\/index.php\/2026\/06\/10\/tmg-55\/","title":{"rendered":"Lawmakers Launch Critique of Impeachment Ruling"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

DAPHINE JUMAH<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

\"Legislators<\/figure>\n\n\n

The Senate has officially decided to challenge a high-profile ruling by the High Court that awarded Sh50 million in damages to former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. The court previously determined that the Senate had violated Gachagua’s constitutional right to a fair trial during his impeachment proceedings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Senate Speaker Amason Kingi strongly condemned the High Court’s findings, calling the decision “erroneous.” He confirmed that the alleged violation of Gachagua’s right to a fair hearing will be the primary focus of the Senate’s upcoming appeal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This contentious judicial ruling has sparked a heated debate over the separation of powers in Kenya. Lawmakers voiced their dissatisfaction on the floor of the House, arguing that the judiciary is overstepping its mandate and attempting to interfere with independent parliamentary functions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During an intense afternoon debate, senators insisted that the High Court failed to respect the legislature’s autonomy. They maintained that the Senate acted strictly within its constitutional authority when it took on the role of a jury to hear the impeachment charges against Gachagua.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“There is an attempt in this country for certain individuals, regardless of their status or office, to undermine the role of institutions,” remarked one senator during the session. The lawmakers argued that, as a constitutional jury, the Senate is not legally obligated to justify its internal decisions to an external court.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“A jury does not have to explain itself. As a House, we sat as a jury, and we should not have to justify our decision because it was made in accordance with the constitution.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Senate
Senate Speaker Amason Kingi strongly condemned the High Court’s findings, calling the decision “erroneous.” He confirmed that the alleged violation of Gachagua’s right to a fair hearing will be the primary focus of the Senate’s upcoming appeal. Photo\/Courtesy\/FACEBOOK<\/sub><\/em><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Central to the Senate’s appeal is the chaotic afternoon when Gachagua failed to appear in the chambers. The Senate contends that a request for adjournment submitted by Gachagua\u2019s legal team lacked any supporting merit or verifiable medical evidence, leaving the Senate with no choice but to proceed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Legislators recalled that even Gachagua’s own defense attorney could not account for his whereabouts when the afternoon session began. The Senate argues that the responsibility to be present during a significant trial lies with the accused, and his absence amounted to a voluntary forfeiture of his right to defend himself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“If an accused person flees from your court, you do not stop the proceedings. You proceed because they choose to forfeit their right,” asserted another lawmaker, adding that the judges were “totally wrong” to penalize the Senate for a crisis created by the defense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beyond the financial implications of the Sh50 million award, several lawmakers questioned the logic behind the High Court’s judgment. Critics within the House pointed out what they saw as a baffling legal contradiction: the court criticized the impeachment process as flawed while simultaneously upholding the outcome of Gachagua\u2019s removal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The
The Senate has officially decided to challenge a high-profile ruling by the High Court that awarded Sh50 million in damages to former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. COURTESY OF FACEBOOK\/<\/sub><\/em><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

“I fail to understand how a process that the court deems flawed can produce a legitimate outcome,” observed a skeptical legislator. This apparent paradox has fueled the Senate’s determination to have the Supreme Court clarify the boundaries between judicial review and parliamentary sovereignty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the Senate prepares its formal petition for the Court of Appeal, the unfolding legal drama sets the stage for a landmark constitutional showdown. The final outcome of this case will likely redefine the legal limits of impeachment processes and shape the balance of power between Kenya’s judiciary and legislature for decades to come.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

DAPHINE JUMAH The Senate has officially decided to challenge a high-profile ruling by the High Court that awarded<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":7365,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7363","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"yoast_head":"\nLawmakers Launch Critique of Impeachment Ruling - Tandao Media<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Legislators recalled that even Gachagua's own defense attorney could not account for his whereabouts when the afternoon session began. 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