Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has stated that he will file a petition on Thursday demanding the removal of Justice Esther Maina from office.

Gachagua announced on Sunday in Elgeyo Marakwet that he will follow Chief Justice Martha Koome's suggestion and seek the expulsion of Justice Maina.

PHOTO | COURTESY DP Rigathi Gachagua 

Gachagua claims Justice Maina rudely declared his money to be the proceeds of crime, a move he claims was intended to tarnish his reputation.

"On Thursday, this coming week at 2:15 pm, I will personally present a petition before Lady Chief Justice Martha Koome against Justice Esther Maina for her removal from the Judiciary for misconduct and corruption," Gachagua said.

PHOTO | COURTESY DP Rigathi Gachagua 

The DP said that Justice Maina denied him the right to be heard in violation of all evidentiary rules and that she even denied his request to cross-examine the investigator in his case.

Gachagua also challenged CJ Koome to publish the number of petitions filed against judicial officers, claiming it is past time for her to tell Kenyans the truth.

In 2022, Justice Maina denied Gachagua's request for the Assets Recovery Agency to unfreeze his funds. Instead, the court ordered that he lose the Ksh202 million in his accounts to the state since they were the profits of corruption. 

PHOTO | COURTESY DP Rigathi Gachagua 

Gachagua, on the other hand, received his money back when he and President William Ruto ascended to power following the 2022 general election.

His planned suit against Justice Maina comes amid escalating tensions between the judiciary and the executive, with President Ruto continuing to criticize the judiciary for ruling against his major projects.