Kenyan President Ruto Nominates Kithure Kindiki as Deputy Amid Court Suspension of Gachagua’s Impeachment
Nairobi, Kenya — Kenyan President William Ruto has nominated Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki as the new deputy president, a day after the Senate voted to impeach Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. However, in a dramatic twist, a high court has temporarily suspended the impeachment process, halting Gachagua’s removal and the appointment of his replacement.
Gachagua, who was hospitalized during the impeachment proceedings, was ousted on five out of 11 charges, including undermining the judiciary and gross misconduct. Despite his lawyer Paul Muite’s request to delay the vote due to Gachagua’s health condition, the Senate proceeded with the impeachment, with 281 MPs voting in favor, 44 against, and one abstention.
On Friday, Speaker of Parliament Moses Wetang’ula announced President Ruto’s formal nomination of Kindiki as deputy president. A close ally of Ruto, Kindiki has served as the interior minister and previously represented Tharaka Nithi County as a senator. He was also considered a strong contender for Ruto’s running mate in the 2022 election.
The National Assembly swiftly approved Kindiki’s nomination, with 236 members voting in favor and none opposing. “The vote is overwhelmingly ‘yes,’ and so the nomination is hereby declared passed by the house,” Speaker Wetang’ula declared.
However, hours after Kindiki’s nomination, a Kenyan high court suspended the Senate’s impeachment decision following a petition filed by Gachagua’s legal team, which cited “monumental constitutional issues.” Presiding Judge Chacha Mwita temporarily paused the impeachment process and the appointment of a new deputy president, pending a hearing scheduled for October 24.
“I am satisfied that the petition raises fundamental constitutional issues concerning the rule of law and human rights,” Judge Mwita stated. The court’s decision has temporarily halted the political reshuffle at the highest levels of government.
Gachagua, who has maintained that his impeachment was politically motivated, vowed to continue fighting the charges. The case will be reviewed by a bench appointed by the Chief Justice, with the country awaiting further developments in the ongoing political drama.
The impeachment of Gachagua, who was Ruto’s running mate in the 2022 election, has captivated Kenya, a nation generally regarded as a stable democracy in East Africa. The high-stakes political showdown has left the country on edge, with the future of its leadership uncertain until the court’s final ruling.
