A major legal bombshell dropped in the High Court today, Wednesday, May 13, 2026, as renowned cardiologist Dr. Daniel Gikonyo took the stand to testify about a private phone call from President William Ruto during the 2024 impeachment of Rigathi Gachagua.
The testimony, delivered during a high-stakes cross-examination before a three-judge bench, adds a layer of intense personal and political intrigue to the former Deputy President’s quest for Sh80 million in damages.
Dr. Gikonyo, the founder of Karen Hospital, confirmed to the court that President Ruto personally called him on the afternoon of October 17, 2024, while Gachagua was undergoing emergency treatment.
The cardiologist stated that the President sought to know the “status of the patient,” just as the Senate was preparing for the historic late-night vote that would eventually remove Gachagua from office.
The medical report filed by Dr. Gikonyo suggests that Gachagua was admitted with severe retrosternal chest pain and required 72 hours of close monitoring to rule out a life-threatening cardiac event.
Gachagua’s legal team is using this call as “Exhibit A” to argue that the Presidency had direct knowledge of his illness, yet the state proceeded with the ouster without allowing him a fair chance to defend himself.
During the cross-examination, lawyers for the current Deputy President, Kithure Kindiki, challenged the medical report, questioning why the patient was identified only by the initials “R.G.” and a passport number.
Dr. Gikonyo defended the omission of Gachagua’s full name, explaining that it was a standard medical practice intended to preserve the “high-profile patient’s confidentiality” during a sensitive period.
Kindiki’s legal team has asked the court to treat the medical affidavit with caution, suggesting that it was filed “last minute” and lacked certain clinical details required to verify the severity of the condition.
The state’s lawyers argued that the “cardiac emergency” was a strategic delay tactic, while Gachagua maintains that the stress of the political “betrayal” was a primary driver of his physical collapse.
This courtroom showdown comes just days after the High Court allowed the “Ruto Phone Call” affidavit into the record, a decision that state agencies had unsuccessfully fought to block.
The judges—Eric Ogolla, Anthony Mrima, and Freda Mugambi—ruled that the testimony was crucial for the “wider interest of justice” in determining if constitutional fair-trial rights were violated.
The “Niko Kadi” generation has been following the live updates with fascination, as the case unmasks the private interactions between the nation’s top two leaders at the height of their fallout.
Legal experts believe that if the court validates Dr. Gikonyo’s account, it could pave the way for Gachagua to secure his multi-million shilling compensation claim for “unlawful and malicious removal.”
As the hearing continues today, the spotlight has shifted toward the potential testimony of Senate officials who presided over the impeachment despite being notified of the Deputy President’s hospitalization.
The “Doctor’s Disclosure” remains the most trending topic in Nairobi, painting a picture of a presidency that was monitoring a political rival’s heartbeat while simultaneously orchestrating his exit.