Impeached former DP demands compensation

The Democracy For Citizens Party leader and former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is demanding over Ksh80m ($620 000) in compensation from the government after his October 2024 impeachment, reports the Kenyans. High Court documents detail a wide-ranging list of financial claims he says the state legally owes him. While making his case on Monday, the former second-in-command insisted he does not want his old job back. According to his lawyers, what he wants instead is to be paid for the 35 months he would have served between his removal and the natural end of his term. His legal team, led by veteran lawyer Paul Muite, broke down the demands into two core facets: ‘The quashing of the unconstitutional impeachment and payment of the remuneration he would have otherwise earned,’ his lawyers told a three-judge Bench. Gachagua has split those financial claims into two main categories: special damages, encompassing what he missed out on while out of office, and pension and retirement benefits he argues belong to him as a former Deputy President under the law. Moreover, Gachagua and his spouse are additionally seeking diplomatic passports from the state. He further wants VIP lounge access at all airports across Kenya. His legal counsel termed his ouster as having happened at ‘lightning speed’, arguing that the two houses of Parliament fast-tracked the case, even working into unofficial night hours, which he claimed had, ‘made it difficult for Gachagua to defend himself’.