Kenya’s Interior Cabinet Secretary, Kithure Kindiki, shared insights alongside British Security Minister Tom Tugendhat during a press gathering in Nairobi, Kenya, on May 10, 2023. Photo courtesy of Monicah Mwangi/REUTERS/File Photo.
In a turn of events, Kenyan President William Ruto selected Kithure Kindiki for the role of deputy, only for a court to halt this appointment due to a pending court case slated for next week. The case questions the dismissal of Kindiki’s forerunner.
Interestingly, this legal hold-up surfaced post the parliamentary green light for Kindiki on Friday. It prolongs the ongoing political unrest in the region, which initially flared up in June with widespread disapproval of increased taxes.
Significantly, a Thursday decision by the Senate sealed Rigathi Gachagua’s fate, siding with impeachment accusations. This historical first stripped a deputy president from office through impeachment.
A provision from the Nairobi high court temporarily freezes Kindiki’s elevation to deputy president status and the Senate’s impeachment endorsement against Gachagua until October 24. At that point, a judicial panel will dissect the matter.
A second court order demands Kindiki remain out of the office until these legal matters receive attention.
The impeachment saga revolves around Gachagua facing five out of eleven allegations, involving constitutional violations and inciting ethnic discord, charges he vehemently refuted as a witch-hunt.
Kindiki had been spotlighted as a strong vice-presidential pick during Ruto’s 2022 campaign and was seated as interior minister when Ruto took the helm in September last year.
The Interior Ministry, responsible for policing initiatives, has faced criticism over alleged police brutality during national protests calling for derailing a contentious finance statute and addressing graft.
Addressing parliament in September, Kindiki claimed the police maintained lawful conduct while denying government involvement in extrajudicial actions or disappearances.
Gachagua played a significant role in Ruto’s election victory by securing majority votes from central Kenya. Nevertheless, he has hinted at feeling sidelined lately, with local media buzzing with rumors of a crack in his alignment with Ruto as political dynamics evolved.
Hospitalized and not present during his ousting from office in the Senate, Gachagua filed an injunction, urging the judiciary to pause Ruto’s replacement plans until a judicial review. Moreover, the 59-year-old politician is embroiled in numerous legal battles disputing the impeachment process.
Reports composed by George Obulutsa and Humphrey Malalo; written by Bhargav Acharya, polished by editors Alexander Winning, Ammu Kannampilly, Andrew Heavens, Angus MacSwan, and William Maclean.
Edited by: Ali Musa
alimusa@axadletimes.com
Axadle international–Monitoring
