Martha Koome Dismisses Fake Post Claiming Gachagua Risks Jail Over Impeachment Case
Chief Justice Martha Koome and the Judiciary have strongly refuted claims circulating online that former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua faces possible jail time for allegedly misinterpreting the law in his ongoing impeachment appeal.
A viral post shared widely on X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook falsely alleged that Gachagua’s impeachment remains permanent and that his appeal in court cannot overturn it. The post, which featured Chief Justice Koome’s image and purported remarks, further insinuated that Gachagua could be jailed for trying to manipulate legal interpretations in his favor.
“If you’re impeached, you’re impeached permanently… the appeal does not make you clean or take away the sentence,” read part of the fake post, attributed to the Chief Justice.
However, in a statement issued on Saturday, the Judiciary flagged the post as misleading and fake, warning Kenyans against falling for unverified legal claims shared on social media. The clarification came after several users raised concerns and demanded an official response from CJ Koome.
The Judiciary reiterated that Chief Justice Koome had not issued any such remarks and cautioned against the spread of disinformation that undermines public trust in the legal process.
This development comes just a day after CJ Koome formally appointed a new three-judge bench to hear and determine Gachagua’s impeachment petitions. The move follows a ruling by the Court of Appeal, which quashed an earlier appointment made by Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu, citing constitutional overreach.
The appellate court ruled that only the Chief Justice holds the mandate to empanel a bench in cases of significant constitutional importance. In compliance with that directive, CJ Koome named Justices Eric Ogola, Anthony Mrima, and Freda Mugambi to preside over the matter.
Gachagua’s legal team had previously challenged Mwilu’s decision, arguing it was unconstitutional and compromised the integrity of the judicial process.
As the legal showdown continues, the Judiciary has urged Kenyans to rely on official channels for updates on the case and to be cautious of politically charged misinformation that could inflame tensions or mislead the public.
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Martha Koome Dismisses Fake Post Claiming Gachagua Risks Jail Over Impeachment Case