Prominent lawyer Miguna Miguna, on Friday, November 1, 2024, came out and voiced his support for impeached former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua in a rare move that has caught many by surprise.
In a post on his X account, the city lawyer urged Rigathi to go all the way to Kenya’s Apex Court in the judicial battle he is currently embroiled in.
“To Rigathi Gachagua: Fight all the way to the Supreme Court. It doesn’t matter if they rule against you. Do it for the record,” Miguna urged.
The lawyer, who has in the past been involved in running battles with the government, implored Gachagua that going all the way to the apex court would also expose the judiciary and the emptiness of the charges leveled against him.
“Also do it expose the emptiness of the charges because they are planning to arraign you in court in due course and you must expose them in open court- from the compromised three-judge bench to the colonized Supreme Court,” his statement read in part.
Miguna Miguna claimed that despite previously disagreeing with Gachagua for his support of late President Daniel Moi during the 1980s, he would still support Gachagua who he believes is a victim of a political witch hunt.
“For some of us it doesn’t matter that we have disagreed with you since 1987 at the University of Nairobi, when we valiantly fought against Daniel arap Moi’s tyranny which you supported and we ended up in the Nyayo Torture Chambers and exile while you have been on the side of repression and plunder throughout your life,” Miguna added.
Miguna warned Gachagua against bowing under pressure from the government, intimating that a surrender by the former DP would effectively signal the end of his political career.
“If you surrender, Ruto will bury you without clothes. Never, ever, kneel down before anyone,” the lawyer claimed.
The advice came hours after Gachagua posted a message on his social media saying he had returned to his Mathira home and was enjoying time with his family. He also changed the bios on his social media accounts from 'Deputy President of the Republic of Kenya' to 'Husband, Father, Kenyan'.
Rigathi Gachagua’s time as the country’s Deputy President officially ended after the High Court on Thursday, October 31, 2024, cleared the way for nominated DP Kithure Kindiki to be sworn in by lifting conservatory orders that had barred his assumption into office.
A three-judge bench ruled that the conservatory orders were hampering the operations of the government as mandated by the Constitution. The judges noted that public interest and constitutional provision demanded that the Office of the Deputy President should not remain vacant.
At the same time, Miguna Miguna reiterated his commitment to upholding the Kenyan Constitution and its provisions.
“We firmly believe in, and are committed to, genuine democracy, constitutionalism, and the rule of law which includes the right to a fair trial, respect for human rights, and zero tolerance for impunity,” Miguna noted.
