Kehinde Fajobi
Kenya’s new Deputy President, Kithure Kindiki, was sworn in on Friday following the removal of court orders that had delayed his inauguration.
Kindiki’s swearing-in came after weeks of legal challenges from his predecessor, Rigathi Gachagua, who was impeached by parliament last month.
In October, the Senate voted to remove Gachagua on charges including gross violation of the constitution and incitement of ethnic hatred—accusations that he has consistently denied, labelling them as politically motivated.
Gachagua and his supporters filed more than 30 legal petitions in an attempt to block his removal and Kindiki’s subsequent appointment.
The High Court initially issued a stay on Kindiki’s inauguration, but on Thursday, judges lifted the order, citing constitutional provisions that the office of the deputy president must not remain vacant.
Gachagua’s legal battle added months of turbulence to Kenya’s political landscape, a period already marked by unrest and nationwide protests against tax hikes in June.
In response to the tensions, President William Ruto introduced opposition members into his cabinet in July, promoting what he called a “unity government” to ease the strain after demonstrators stormed parliament.
Ruto’s effort to build unity, however, sidelined Gachagua, who had previously been a key ally in securing votes from the populous Mount Kenya region during Ruto’s campaign.
But their relationship soured, further shifting Kenya’s political landscape.
Kindiki, a close ally of Ruto and once a top choice for his running mate in the 2022 election, was initially appointed interior minister when Ruto assumed office last September.
Following Kindiki’s swearing-in as deputy president, Ruto announced that Foreign Minister Musalia Mudavadi would now take over the interior ministry.