Kenya President nominates new Deputy President

By Brian Oruta, NAIROBI Kenya

President of Kenya, William Ruto, has nominated Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki as the next Deputy President following the impeachment of Rigathi Gachagua Thursday night.

Kindiki's name has been submitted to the National Assembly where MPs are expected to vote on it.

Speaker Moses Wetang'ula announced the appointment in a special Sitting convened on Friday.

"I have received a message from the president on the nomination of Professor Kithure Kindiki to fill the vacancy in the office of the Deputy President of the Republic of Kenya," Wetang'ula announced.

The Constitution says that once the president submits the nomination to the National Assembly, MPs shall vote to reject or endorse the name. There is also no requirement for a two-thirds majority.

He will then be sworn into office after being approved.

Kindiki has been serving as the Interior CS for about two years.

He previously served as the Senator for Tharaka Nithi County for two terms (10 years).

In the run-up to the 2022 general elections, Kindiki was among the favourites to become Ruto’s running mate, but he eventually settled on Gachagua.

He would later on explain that he picked Gachagua because of his age and he thought they would understand each other better.

At the start of Gachagua’s impeachment, there was talk of Kindiki being the next in line to replace him on many quotas.

Opinion leaders and polls also placed Kindiki as the favourite choice for Deputy President in case Gachagua’s ouster was successful.

Kindiki also received endorsement from at least 69 elected leaders from the larger Mt Kenya region to be their link with the Kenya Kwanza administration.

Endorsements also came from the Members of County Assemblies and the youth among others.