Ruto and Impeached Gachagua Hold Separate Church Services

Kenya’s President William Ruto and recently impeached Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua attended separate church services on Sunday.

President Ruto participated in mass at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church in Moiben, Uasin Gishu, while Gachagua made his first public appearance since his impeachment at St. James ACK Cathedral in Kiambu Town, his political stronghold in Central Kenya. The impeachment, which followed the Senate’s confirmation of five out of eleven charges brought by the National Assembly, centered on allegations including constitutional violations, interference with judicial independence, and gross misconduct. Gachagua has since mounted a legal challenge to contest the decision, with a critical hearing scheduled before a three-judge bench on October 29 regarding conservatory orders that currently prevent Kithure Kindiki’s swearing-in as the new Deputy President.

Gachagua was accompanied by his spouse Pastor Dorcus Rigathi, former UDA Secretary General Cleophas Malala, and several political allies including Kiambu Senator Karungo Wa Thang’wa. President Ruto’s service was attended by over twenty members of parliament, notably including representatives from the opposition ODM party who have recently joined the government through a broad-based arrangement. The political landscape has shifted since Gachagua’s hospitalization at Karen Hospital during the recent Mashujaa Day celebrations, where Kindiki assumed the deputy president’s traditional position beside President Ruto.

While First Lady Rachel Ruto was absent from the Moiben service, Kindiki has maintained a notably low profile since his parliamentary approval as Gachagua’s potential successor. The legal proceedings have intensified as Gachagua seeks to overturn his impeachment. Despite challenges regarding potential bias, the three-judge panel, comprising Justices Freda Mugambi, Eric Ogola, and Antony Mrima, has committed to addressing the constitutional questions at hand and has directed all parties to submit written arguments before the upcoming hearing.

This impeachment saga has exposed deep fissures within Kenya’s political establishment. Supporters of Gachagua contend that the process was politically motivated, while his critics maintain it was a necessary step to uphold constitutional principles and leadership accountability. Meanwhile, Kenyans have voiced their opposition to a contentious proposal seeking to extend the terms of the President and elected officials during a public hearing at KICC. The event, organized by the Senate’s Justice, Legal Affairs and Human Rights Committee, marks the final day for public participation after an overwhelming response that caused the Senate’s email system to crash with more than 240,000 submissions.

The proposed amendment, which aims to increase term lengths from five to seven years, has met fierce resistance from the public. By Thursday evening, the Committee had processed over 120,000 written submissions regarding the Bill sponsored by Senator Cherargei. This represents the second attempt to modify presidential term limits since President William Ruto assumed office in 2022. The previous effort, spearheaded by Fafi MP Farah Yakub, sought to eliminate term limits entirely and implement a 75-year age cap instead, though this initiative failed to gain traction.