Last Updated on January 26, 2025 by Turkana County News Online
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has alleged a government-led plan to weaken Kenya’s Judiciary in the lead-up to the 2027 General Election. Speaking during a church service in Meru on Sunday, January 26, Gachagua accused President William Ruto of orchestrating a scheme to remove current Supreme Court judges and replace them with individuals loyal to the regime.
Gachagua claimed that the state had allocated funds for a smear campaign against the judiciary through the National Intelligence Service (NIS), aiming to force the exit of Chief Justice Martha Koome and other Supreme Court judges.
“There is a well-coordinated scheme to dismantle the Supreme Court before the 2027 elections. A budget has been set aside through NIS for petitions and smear campaigns targeting Chief Justice Martha Koome and other judges. The goal is to replace them with a bench more agreeable to those in power,” Gachagua asserted.
The former deputy president strongly opposed the alleged plans, warning that such actions could undermine democracy. He urged Kenyans to resist and called on the international community to closely monitor Kenya’s political developments.
“We cannot allow this. We urge the international community to keep an eye on Kenya. Parliament and the opposition have already been subdued, and if the Judiciary is captured, this country risks sliding into dictatorship,” Gachagua cautioned.
He further linked recent claims by Chief Justice Koome to the alleged plot. On Thursday, January 23, Koome raised alarm over the withdrawal of her security detail. In a letter addressed to Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen and Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, the Chief Justice described the move as a threat to judicial independence and a violation of constitutional safeguards.
Koome also highlighted concerns about the diminished capacity of the Judiciary Police Unit following the withdrawal of several officers, emphasizing its potential impact on the judiciary’s operations and security.
Gachagua’s statements have added to the growing debate about the state of judicial independence in Kenya, with many observers urging transparency and adherence to constitutional principles to safeguard democracy.
