Former interior minister, Prof. Kithure Kindiki has been sworn in as the nation’s third deputy president. During the solemn ceremony on Friday, he reiterated his loyalty to president Ruto and the state. It is worthy of note that the High court paved the way for him to ascend to his new post on Thursday.
Kenya’s interior minister Prof. Kithure Kindiki has been sworn in as the nation’s 3rd deputy president after a high court on Thursday lifted orders barring the swearing-in of the newly appointed official.
The swearing-in ceremony that commenced on Friday at 10 am at the Kenyatta international Convention Centre in Nairobi comes after a statement made by Judge Anthony Mrima explaining that « the office of the deputy president should not remain vacant. »
Judge Mrima underlined this after the filing of over 30 court cases by Rigathi Gachagua against his ouster.
During the event, the new Deputy president pledged to do his best in his new role , assuring president Ruto of his loyalty.
In early October, the Senate voted to uphold five out of 11 charges against Gachagua, including gross violation of the constitution and stirring ethnic hatred, accusations that he has denied and labeled as politically motivated especially as they two ran together in the 2022 presidential elections.
President William Ruto subsequently chose Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki as his new deputy, but a court blocked his ascension to his new post.
Gachagua’s legal challenges extend months of political turmoil in Kenya, East Africa’s largest economy, which debuted with nationwide protests against unpopular tax hikes ( finance bill) in June this year.
With these latest developments, President Samoei Ruto has appointed Prime Cabinet Secretary, Musalia Mudavadi as acting interior Cabinet Secretary a docket, Prof. Kindiki held.
