A group of professionals from the Mt Kenya region has launched a fundraising campaign aiming to raise Sh100 million to support impeached Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s case, as well as a series of other public interest litigation projects against government policies.
The initiative, spearheaded by organizations such as Gema Watho, a group of Mt Kenya lawyers, the Gema Youth Council, and the Kiama Kia Ma elders’ association, was unveiled during a meeting at Nairobi’s Public Service Club on Tuesday.
The group is determined to challenge what they see as constitutional violations in Gachagua’s impeachment, along with several other cases they believe threaten public welfare.
Lawyer Wambugu Wanjohi, the chairperson of Gema Watho, explained that the group’s involvement in Gachagua’s case was not politically motivated, but rather driven by concerns over constitutional processes.
“As lawyers, anything that threatens the constitutional order threatens the prosperity of our nation,” Wanjohi stated.
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“We are not challenging Gachagua’s impeachment because he is from Mt Kenya, but because the process, including lack of public participation and denial of a fair trial, was flawed.”
Wanjohi went on to stress that regardless of Gachagua’s regional background, the group would have pursued litigation if they believed the impeachment process fell short of constitutional standards.
The group currently has three ongoing cases related to Gachagua’s impeachment and other significant issues affecting the country.
These include the controversial Adani-JKIA and Adani-Ketraco deals, the eviction of legitimate owners at Ndabibi Farm, and challenges surrounding the implementation of the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) and the Social Health Authority (SHA).
Furthermore, Wanjohi revealed plans to file a lawsuit against the government’s petroleum deal, which they argue raises serious legal questions.
Despite their focus on public interest issues, Wanjohi emphasized that the group’s ultimate goal was to support the prosperity of their community.
“Nothing limits us from pursuing cases of national significance,” he said. “We aim to continue educating the public on their rights through legal clinics across the country.”
The association, which was formed in September last year, has already attracted 2,000 lawyers from across the region, demonstrating the growing support for their cause.
The Gema Youth Council, represented by chairperson Douglas Ndonga, expressed their support for the cause, highlighting the community’s deep frustration with Gachagua’s impeachment.
“Gachagua was simply a custodian of the Deputy President role for our region,” Ndonga explained. “We see the assignment of this role to Kithure Kindiki as an attempt to divide Mt Kenya, but we will not allow that to happen. We stand with Gachagua, our own.”
Kiama Kia Ma Vice Chairperson Njoroge Mugo added that they were also supporting the initiative as an act of compassion for their community.
The group has opened a Pay Bill number to facilitate donations for the public interest cases.
Political analysts believe that the actions of these Mt Kenya associations reflect growing frustration with the Kenya Kwanza administration under President William Ruto.
Analyst Charles Njoroge pointed out that many in the region supported Ruto for reasons such as sympathy over his alleged mistreatment by former President Uhuru Kenyatta, the appeal of the “Hustler” narrative, and a long-standing aversion to Raila Odinga.
However, rising costs of living, reports of abductions, and increasing government overreach are driving discontent across different social groups.
“The initial support for Ruto is now turning into frustration, with people from all walks of life—politicians, civil society, intellectuals, and even clergy—beginning to push back against the government,” Njoroge said.
