Nairobi, Kenya – Kenya’s new Deputy President, Kithure Kindiki, was officially sworn into office on Friday after weeks of legal wrangling. The inauguration followed a court order lifting a temporary injunction that had halted the process due to challenges filed by his impeached predecessor, Rigathi Gachagua.
Gachagua was removed from office by the Senate last month on charges of gross constitutional violations and inciting ethnic hatred. He has consistently denied these allegations, labeling them as politically motivated.
The legal battles, which included over 30 court cases filed by Gachagua and his supporters, aimed to prevent his dismissal and Kindiki’s appointment. However, the High Court ultimately lifted the stay order, citing constitutional provisions against a vacant deputy president position.
The political turmoil in Kenya, East Africa’s largest economy, has intensified since June, when nationwide protests erupted against unpopular tax increases. In an attempt to quell tensions, President William Ruto formed a unity government in July, inviting opposition members to join his cabinet.
This political realignment sidelined Gachagua, who had been instrumental in securing significant voter support from the populous Mount Kenya region during Ruto’s election campaign. Tensions between the two have since escalated.
While Ruto has refrained from commenting on the impeachment proceedings, he has called for national unity and an end to divisive politics. Gachagua, on the other hand, has made controversial remarks, comparing the government to a company and suggesting that supporters of the ruling coalition deserve preferential treatment.
During Kindiki’s swearing-in ceremony, Ruto urged his new deputy to serve all Kenyans equally, regardless of their political affiliations. Kindiki, a former interior minister and a key figure in Ruto’s 2022 presidential campaign.
