Gladys Shollei Slams Gachagua’s Lawyers: “Storming Out of Senate Was a Major Blunder!”

Gladys Boss Shollei

In a fierce takedown, National Assembly Deputy Speaker and Uasin Gishu Woman Rep Gladys Boss Shollei has condemned the lawyers representing former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, following their dramatic walkout from the Senate impeachment trial. According to Shollei, the lawyers’ exit not only jeopardized Gachagua’s defense but also amounted to “misconduct.”

“You Filed Your Evidence—You’ve Already Been Heard!”

Shollei pulled no punches during a panel interview on Story Flani News, where she sparred with Makueni Senator Dan Maanzo over Gachagua’s claim that he wasn’t given a fair chance to defend himself. She countered these claims, asserting that all of Gachagua’s evidence had been filed well in advance, ensuring his voice was already “heard” through his affidavit.

“When you file for a Senate trial, you include a sworn affidavit with all your evidence—hundreds of pages! Gachagua had already put his case forward,” Shollei explained. “Even if he were there in person, he’d be limited to what’s in that affidavit.”

Shollei went further, suggesting that Gachagua’s absence didn’t harm his case but that his lawyers' abrupt walkout left the movers of the impeachment motion unable to cross-examine him, which, she argued, showed a lack of professionalism.

“Storming Out Was Misconduct!”

The gloves came off as Shollei described the lawyers’ decision to storm out as “misconduct,” arguing that their hasty exit did Gachagua more harm than good. “You can’t storm out of a Senate trial—a trial court—and then expect to just walk into another court later as if nothing happened,” she stated emphatically.

For Shollei, the minimum courtesy from “senior counsels” would have been to stay and fight the case on behalf of their client. “They had clear instructions, evidence, affidavits—everything! Their exit was shocking, and frankly, it’s misconduct when lawyers behave like that.”

What Led to the Walkout?

Gachagua’s lawyers, led by Paul Muite, stormed out on October 17, 2024, after the Senate rejected their request to delay the proceedings due to Gachagua’s hospitalization. Muite appealed for a postponement until October 22, citing Gachagua’s chest pains. However, the Senate refused, voting instead to proceed with the trial.

Faced with the Senate’s decision, Gachagua’s lawyers asked to withdraw, stating they had no clear instructions to make a closing argument. After their exit, the Senate allowed the movers of the impeachment motion to deliver their closing statements. Gachagua was ultimately impeached, with senators voting to uphold five charges, including inciting ethnic divisions and violating his oath of office.

The Fallout: A Major Misstep for Gachagua’s Legal Team?

The Senate’s impeachment vote echoed a previous vote by the National Assembly on October 8, where 282 MPs backed Gachagua’s ouster. But for Shollei, the legal strategy—or lack thereof—played a huge role in the trial’s outcome. She questioned the tactics of Gachagua’s lawyers, emphasizing that walking out wasn’t just dramatic—it was detrimental.

As Shollei continues to critique Gachagua’s team, her words resonate as a caution to legal professionals across Kenya: Sometimes, the best defense is to stay and fight, rather than storming out in protest.