The High Court was compelled to adjourn on Tuesday after intense legal disputes broke out between the impeached Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua's defense team and other parties, leading the judges to announce a temporary pause.

The conflict arose during a heated debate over the legitimacy of the three-judge panel presiding over the case. Gachagua's legal team challenged the legality of the bench’s composition and demanded clarification on how it was formed.

The panel, composed of Justices Eric Ogola, Anthony Mrima, and Frida Mugambi, ruled that the concerns raised were significant and needed to be addressed before proceedings could continue. Judge Ogola directed Gachagua's lawyers to file a formal petition within an hour, after which the court would reconvene at 2 p.m. for further deliberation.

“This is a matter of great importance, and we must ensure proper procedure is followed," Ogola stated, adding that the application regarding the bench’s validity must be submitted swiftly for review.

Earlier, Gachagua's team argued that Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu overstepped her authority by constituting the bench in Chief Justice Martha Koome’s absence, as Koome was reportedly out of the country at the time. Gachagua’s lawyer, Ndegwa Njiru, claimed the bench's formation showed bias, implying the government was influencing the proceedings.

The court adjourned, with further developments expected in the afternoon session.