Fresh details have emerged in court after cardiologist Dan Gikonyo revealed that President William Ruto personally called him to inquire about the health condition of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua following his admission to Karen Hospital in October 2024.
While testifying in court on Wednesday, Dr Gikonyo disclosed that the President reached out to seek updates on Gachagua’s medical condition while the former Deputy President was undergoing treatment after reportedly developing chest complications during his impeachment proceedings at the Senate.
According to the cardiologist, the call was among several inquiries made by relatives, friends, and associates concerned about the former DP’s health.
“Your honour, there are always follow-up calls from relatives, parents and friends. And in this particular case, I must be honest enough to specify that I did receive a call from the president,” Dr Gikonyo told the court during his testimony.
He explained that President Ruto sought to know the condition of the patient, prompting him to provide a brief medical update while informing him that further tests were still ongoing.
The doctor stated that he informed the President that the medical team was carrying out several examinations and promised to give further updates once the tests were completed.
Dr Gikonyo also told the court that before sharing any medical information, he first sought clearance from Gachagua himself, in line with patient confidentiality requirements.
“When I said that I had to seek clearance from the patient, which I did, he gave me permission,” the cardiologist explained during the proceedings.
The revelations emerged during a tense cross-examination session where lawyers questioned the credibility and completeness of medical evidence presented before the court regarding Gachagua’s condition at the time.
Lawyers representing the respondent challenged Dr Gikonyo over the absence of supporting medical records, including echocardiogram graphs, imaging results, and laboratory reports linked to the former DP’s treatment.
Although the cardiologist confirmed that the medical tests had indeed been conducted, he admitted that the supporting documents had not been attached to the affidavit filed before the court.
The lawyer further questioned why critical images and laboratory reports had not been included in the court documents despite being referenced in the medical report.
Dr Gikonyo maintained that the records were available and could be produced if required by the court.
The latest revelations have added a fresh political dimension to the ongoing legal proceedings surrounding Gachagua’s impeachment and medical condition during the highly publicized Senate hearings.
