A section of Mt Kenya elders cropped to the right President William Ruto and to the left former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua /photo courtesy/
A group of professionals from the Mt. Kenya region is working tirelessly to raise Ksh. 100 million for the legal battle to challenge the impeachment of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. The group, which includes the Gema Watho association (a network of lawyers from the region), Gema Youth Council, Kiama Kia Ma (an elders’ association), and other professionals, convened at Nairobi’s Public Service Club on Tuesday to launch a fundraiser for the impeachment case and other public interest lawsuits.
The effort is spearheaded by lawyer Wambugu Wanjohi, the chairperson of Gema Watho, who explained that their involvement in the impeachment case stemmed from concerns about the constitutional processes being disregarded during Gachagua’s removal.
“As lawyers, we are committed to protecting the constitutional order. Anything that threatens this order also jeopardizes the nation’s prosperity,” Wanjohi emphasized. He clarified that the group’s opposition to Gachagua’s impeachment was not based on his Mt. Kenya origin, but on legal shortcomings such as insufficient public participation and the denial of a fair trial during the impeachment proceedings.
“Even if the deputy president were from any other part of the country, we would have pursued this case if we felt the legal threshold for impeachment wasn’t met,” he added.
Beyond Gachagua’s impeachment, Wanjohi highlighted several other important cases the group is pursuing including the Adani-JKIA deal, the Adani-Ketraco deal, the eviction of legitimate owners at Ndabibi farm, and a lawsuit challenging the implementation of the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) and Social Health Authority (SHA). Wanjohi also mentioned plans to take legal action against the controversial Government-to-Government petroleum deal, citing significant legal concerns that need judicial review.
“The aim of our association is not just to serve our community, but to address national issues through litigation,” Wanjohi remarked. “We also focus on educating the public through legal clinics across the country, which is part of our mission for the prosperity of our people.”
Since its formation in September 2022, Gema Watho has attracted over 2,000 lawyers from across the Mt. Kenya region.
Njoroge Mugo, the vice chairperson of Kiama Kia Ma, expressed the elders’ strong support for the group’s public interest litigation efforts, including the Gachagua impeachment case. He stressed the importance of taking compassionate action in support of the community.
“When we show mercy, it must be through concrete actions. That’s why, as elders, we stand with Gema Watho in their pursuit of justice for Gachagua and the region,” Mugo said during the meeting.
Douglas Ndonga, chairperson of the Gema Youth Council, added that the community felt deeply impacted by Gachagua’s impeachment, seeing it as a threat to unity within the Mt. Kenya region.
“Gachagua was simply a custodian of the Deputy President’s role on behalf of our region. By assigning this position to Kithure Kindiki, we perceive an attempt to divide Mt. Kenya East and West. This tactic has failed, and we will not let it succeed,” Ndonga said. He emphasized that the youth had embraced dialogue and conflict resolution through elders, church leaders, and other representatives, rather than resorting to defiance.
Ndonga’s group also plans to train and build the capacity of aspiring leaders in the region, with a focus on educating the electorate to ensure the election of strong and effective leaders.
Political analysts see the move by Mt. Kenya’s professional groups as a sign of growing discontent with the Kenya Kwanza administration under President William Ruto. According to analyst Charles Njoroge, the region’s support for Ruto was motivated by several factors, including sympathy for his alleged mistreatment by former President Uhuru Kenyatta, the appeal of the “Hustler” movement, and a longstanding aversion to opposition leader Raila Odinga.
“Now, many who supported Ruto feel aggrieved,” Njoroge explained. “The rising cost of living, reports of abductions, and the weaponization of government agencies are fueling this discontent. Politicians, civil society leaders, intellectuals, and clergy are slowly but surely beginning to rebel.”
Despite the internal challenges, the leaders of Mt. Kenya are committed to presenting a united front, using legal means to address grievances and safeguard their community’s interests.
