• Gachagua had termed Justice Esther Maina as corrupt during a church service in Iten on Sunday, January 14, 2024. He claimed that Justice Maina declared his wealth proceeds of crime without giving him a chance to defend himself, so he will present a petition for her removal. 
Evans Ondieki, an advocate of the High Court of Kenya, has hit on Deputy President Gachagua over his claim that Justice Esther Maina should be removed for misconduct and corruption.

Ondieki has said that Gachagua has no respect for the rule of law and is abusing judicial officers. 

“I want to condemn the primitive behaviour of the deputy president. Mr Gachagua has no respect for the rule of law. He is abusing judicial officers helter-skelter, particularly naming a person who has made a decision against him,” Ondieki said. 

According to Advocate Evans, Gachagua’s words are defamatory because Justice Maina is a hardworking and respectable judicial officer whose integrity is beyond question. 

“It is not just defamatory because it is also scandalous. If he has any evidence, he should submit it to the JSC. Her integrity is beyond question. She made that decision based on facts and the law before her,” he added.

Gachagua had termed Justice Esther Maina as corrupt during a church service in Iten on Sunday, January 14, 2024. He claimed that Justice Maina declared his wealth proceeds of crime without giving him a chance to defend himself, so he will present a petition for her removal. 

“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.

In July 2022, months before the polls, Justice Maina ordered Gachagua to forfeit Sh202 million for being proceeds of corruption. She said he could not prove how he raised the money.

Evans condemned Gachagua’s behaviour, terming it unprofessional. He also appealed to the Chief Justice to be firm on rogue state officers.

“It is unfair for Gachagua to shout people’s names on TV without knowing they have families, responsibilities and careers. I appeal to the CJ to be very firm on rogue state officers, particularly Gachagua,” he concluded.