President William Ruto of Kenya has nominated Kithuri Kindiki, the current interior minister, to replace Rigathi Gachagua as Deputy President after Gachagua was removed in a historic impeachment on Thursday.
The dramatic political shift has captivated the nation, which is often regarded as a stable democracy in the turbulent East African region.
The impeachment of Gachagua, Ruto’s running mate in the closely contested 2022 election, marks a significant moment in Kenyan politics as he becomes the first deputy president to be impeached under the revised 2010 constitution.
The Senate voted to remove Gachagua after finding him guilty of five out of eleven charges, despite his absence from the proceedings due to hospitalization.
The fast-moving developments continued on Friday as National Assembly Speaker, Moses Wetangula announced Kindiki’s nomination and urged parliamentarians to proceed with the vote for confirmation.
Kindiki, a 52-year-old academic turned political heavyweight, had been seen as a frontrunner for the deputy role following media speculations.
During his tenure as interior minister, Kindiki faced criticism over alleged police brutality during anti-government protests earlier this year, which resulted in fatalities. His appointment to the deputy position comes amidst a backdrop of political tension and public scrutiny.
Gachagua’s impeachment unfolded dramatically after he was rushed to Karen Hospital with chest pains just before the Senate proceedings.
His legal team’s appeal for a postponement was denied, leading to their walkout in protest. Gachagua’s condition has been described as stable, and he is expected to remain hospitalized for tests and observation for 48 to 72 hours.
This impeachment is the culmination of a bitter fallout between Gachagua and President Ruto, who had relied on Gachagua’s support to secure victory in the Mount Kenya region during the last elections.
