Kenya's Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua on Thursday filed a petition to the high court in Nairobi seeking to halt an impeachment process launched against him by lawmakers earlier this week, documents showed.

The Kenyan parliament has tabled a motion to impeach Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua for violation of the constitution amid suggestions that he had fallen out with President William Ruto. Allies of Kenyan President William Ruto began a motion to impeach the Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua in an unprecedented political move on Tuesday.

A section of Members of Parliament from the Mt Kenya region, who initially supported the motion to impeach Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua from office, have now changed their stance.

Majority and minority leaders of parliament say lawmakers who support DP Rigathi Gachagua’s removal from office are fearful of being targeted.

Allies of Kenyan President William Ruto launched a motion in parliament on Tuesday to impeach Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, accusing him of stirring ethnic hatred and undermining the government.

Kenya’s National Assembly on Tuesday received an impeachment motion against Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, a process that threatens William Ruto’s economic agenda which is already on the ropes after deadly protests.

Kenya's Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua on Thursday filed a petition to a court in Nairobi seeking to halt an impeachment process launched against him by lawmakers earlier this week, Kenyan media reported.