Court stops arrest, prosecution of Gachagua’s allies

By Peter Ochieng

The High Court has temporarily stopped the arrest and prosecution of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s allies.

The order was issued by Justice Mugambi.

“Pending the hearing and determination of this application, this court hereby issues a conservatory order restraining the respondents from arresting, detaining, confining, prosecuting, or in any other way interfering with the liberty of the petitioner/applicants,” stated the judge.

The move comes hours after the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Renson Ingonga approved charges against five people allied to Gachagua, among them Embakasi North MP James Gakuya and Embakasi Central MP Benjamin Gathiru.

They reportedly played critical roles in planning, mobilising and financing the June and July youth-led anti-government protests.

In a letter dated September 26, 2024, addressed to the director Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Amin Mohamed, Ingonga said that the five should face charges against them.

"Upon careful perusal, the DPP has directed that there is sufficient evidence to charge the suspects with the offence of conspiracy to commit felony contrary to section 393 of the Penal code,” he said.

Gachagua has already condemned the use of the criminal justice system to manage politics, terming it an outdated political strategy.

“President William Ruto and I, on assuming Office, gave an undertaking to the People of Kenya that never again shall the criminal justice system be called upon to help in the management of politics.”

“I am embarrassed that we are back to where we were. Harassment of my Office staff and Members of Parliament perceived to be close to me, has been going on for the last two months,” he added.

Meanwhile, a Kenyan has filed a petition in court seeking to stop the planned impeachment of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

In his petition, the youth leader urged the court to issue orders barring any Members of Parliament (MP) from tabling any motion on the deputy president's impeachment.