Lawyer Nelson Havi has taken issue with former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua over his stance on Chief Justice Martha Koome’s removal from office.
In a statement on Sunday, February 24, Havi questioned why Gachagua is directing his frustration at President William Ruto.
Havi reaffirmed his long-standing opposition to Koome’s leadership, maintaining that he has been consistent in his position since she applied for the Chief Justice role.
“Why is Rigathi Gachagua threatening President William Ruto over the removal of the recalcitrant Martha Koome from office? Let him threaten and order protests against me. I have been consistent about Koome's unsuitability from the day she applied for the office of CJ. It is my war,” he said.
Notably, in the recent past, Havi has intensified his campaign against Koome, filing petitions and rallying support to demand her removal from office.
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Havi accuses Koome of tolerating corruption and failing to provide effective leadership within the judiciary, claims that have sparked a heated legal and political standoff.
The conflict gained momentum in January when Havi submitted a petition to the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) seeking the ouster of Koome and all six Supreme Court judges, citing gross misconduct and mismanagement.
Despite a temporary High Court order halting JSC proceedings against the judges, Havi remains undeterred, publicly dismissing Koome’s counter-petition to block her removal as baseless.
Earlier Sunday, Gachagua warned Ruto over alleged plans to kick Chief Justice Martha Koome out of office.
Speaking during a church service in Meru County, the former DP said Ruto should not set foot in Meru if the alleged plan goes through.
"If you chase our Martha Koome, don't set foot in Meru. You chased Rigathi Gachagua, and the Mt. Kenya people were silent, you thought they were cowards," he said.
Additionally, Gachagua promised to call for protests if the plan is hatched, accusing Ruto of destroying the leadership of the Mt. Kenya Region.
"This is too much now. How do you purge the leadership of an entire community that made you president? If Koome is dismissed and I call for protests, will you come out? We are not going to sit again as Ruto destroys the leadership of Mount Kenya," he added.
