Kithure Kindiki Slams Gachagua for Linking Ruto to Plot to Oust CJ Koome: “Ethnic Godfather”

Kithure Kindiki Slams Gachagua for Linking Ruto to Plot to Oust CJ Koome: “Ethnic Godfather”

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has fiercely criticized his predecessor, Rigathi Gachagua, for dragging President William Ruto into the ongoing judicial crisis. Kithure Kindiki Slams Gachagua for Linking Ruto to Plot to Oust CJ Koome: “Ethnic Godfather” calling him an “ethnic godfather” who thrives on tribal politics.

Judicial Integrity Must Remain Untouched

In a statement on Monday, February 24, Kindiki emphasized that the removal of a judge is a constitutional issue, not a political or ethnic affair.

“Removal of a judge from office is purely a constitutional matter and not a political or ethnic issue,” he stated.

He urged leaders to stop politicizing judicial processes, warning against turning serious legal matters into ethnic debates.

“Accusers and defenders of judges must use constitutional and legal arguments rather than trivializing such a weighty legal matter by bringing ethnicity into the equation,” he added.

Who Speaks for Judges Without “Ethnic Godfathers”?

Kindiki also took a swipe at Gachagua’s political mobilization tactics. He questioned what happens to judges who lack powerful ethnic backers.

“Who defends the judges who may be innocent but do not have ethnic godfathers?” he asked.

His statement was seen as a direct response to Gachagua’s call for the Mount Kenya region to resist the alleged plot against Chief Justice Martha Koome.

Gachagua’s Explosive Claims

On Sunday, February 23, during a church service in Nyeri, Gachagua accused Ruto of plotting to remove Koome. He claimed the move was part of a power play ahead of the 2027 General Election.

According to Gachagua, Ruto is targeting Koome and other Supreme Court judges to consolidate control over state institutions. He framed the issue as an attack on the Mount Kenya community, urging locals to resist.

Since his impeachment in October 2024, Gachagua has remained one of Ruto’s fiercest critics. He continues to accuse the president of sidelining his former allies and undermining regional interests.

High Court Blocks Koome’s Removal

Amid the political storm, the High Court in Nairobi stepped in on Friday, February 21, temporarily barring the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) from reviewing petitions against Koome and six other Supreme Court judges.

Justice Njoki Ndung’u filed the petition to suspend ongoing cases seeking their removal. Among the cases is one by former Law Society of Kenya President Nelson Havi, who wants Koome, Deputy CJ Philomena Mwilu, and five others ousted.

As political tensions rise, the judiciary remains in the eye of the storm. Whether Koome survives the push for her removal or not, the battle lines are already drawn.

ALSO READ: Gachagua Warns Ruto: “Don’t Set Foot in Meru If You Remove CJ Koome!”

Kithure Kindiki Slams Gachagua for Linking Ruto to Plot to Oust CJ Koome: “Ethnic Godfather”