Nairobi, (UG):- Kenya’s President H.E William Samoei Ruto Friday notified the country’s National Assembly of his nomination of Interior Cabinet Secretary Prof Kithure Kindiki to replace Mr Rigathi Gachagua as the Deputy President.
“I have received a message from … the president, regarding the nomination of Professor Kithure Kindiki to fill the vacancy which has occurred in the office,” Speaker Moses Wetang’ula said in the National Assembly.
Kindiki’s nomination, a close ally of President Ruto which still needs approval by the National Assembly comes after a period of political turmoil, mass protests and the first removal of a Kenyan deputy president by impeachment.
Gachagua was removed from office on Thursday, October 17 after 54 senators voted in favour of upholding the impeachment. He was impeached on five out of 11 charges including gross violation of the constitution and stirring ethnic hatred – accusations that he denied and dismissed as politically motivated.
Who is Kithure Kindiki, the new DP
Born on July 16, 1972, in Irunduni village, Tharaka constituency, Prof Kindiki is now just a step away from becoming the second in command and just a heartbeat away from the Presidency.
An advocate of the High Court of Kenya with 21 years’ experience where he has represented clients in both national and international courts, Prof Kindiki is set to become second time lucky to clinch the position he missed in 2022
Prof Kindiki is the only Cabinet Secretary who has maintained the docket he was appointed to since September 2022 even after the Cabinet was dissolved and reconstituted this year.
Prof Kindiki was instrumental in the negotiations and legal drafting of the coalition between The National Alliance (TNA) and the United Republican Party in 2012 and the Kenya Kwanza Alliance coalition bringing together 14 political parties in 2022
An Infotrak survey results released recently put Prof Kindiki ahead at 20 per cent as the preferred candidate to replace Mr Gachagua if he is impeached with five per cent throwing their weight behind Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru.
The Interior Cabinet Secretary is considered non-antagonistic and has acceptability across the political divide. His long-standing relationship with President Ruto will also be an advantage, having been his lawyer while he was facing charges at the International Criminal Court.
Having been reportedly endorsed by MPs in the run-up to the 2022 elections as Ruto’s running mate before Mr Gachagua was picked, Prof Kindiki was considered a front-runner after it became clear the Deputy President would be replaced.
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