President William Ruto has nominated Prof. Kithure Kindiki to replace former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who was impeached by both houses of Parliament earlier this week. The announcement was made on Friday morning by National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula.
Wetangula stated, “Pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 42(1), I wish to report to the House that this morning I received a message from the President regarding the nomination of Kithure Kindiki to fill the vacancy in the Office of the Deputy President following the impeachment of the previous office holder.”
Impeachment of Rigathi Gachagua
Rigathi Gachagua was removed from office after a Senate vote that supported five out of eleven grounds for his impeachment, with the key charges including gross violation of the Constitution. The impeachment process involved two days of hearings, presenting extensive evidence, and cross-examinations of key witnesses.
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The Senate’s decision was followed by the formal gazetting of Gachagua’s removal, triggering the constitutional requirement for President Ruto to nominate a replacement within a limited timeframe.
Prof. Kithure Kindiki, currently serving as the Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration, has been nominated to fill the Deputy President position. His nomination now moves to the National Assembly for approval. The Assembly is required to vote on the nomination within 60 days of receiving it, in line with parliamentary procedures.
Upon parliamentary approval, Prof. Kindiki will be formally appointed by President Ruto to assume the role of Deputy President. Although the Kenyan Constitution does not set a strict timeline for this appointment, it is expected to take place shortly after the Assembly’s vote.
Who is Prof. Kithure Kindiki?
Prof. Kithure Kindiki, 52, was born in Irunduni village, Tharaka Nithi County. His educational journey began at Irunduni Primary School and continued at Lenana School. He later earned a law degree from the University of Nairobi, followed by a Master’s degree and a PhD in law from the University of Pretoria.
Prof. Kindiki’s career spans both academia and politics. He has taught law at Moi University and the University of Nairobi, while also serving as a visiting lecturer at several institutions abroad. His entry into public service began in 2008 when he was appointed Secretary for the National Cohesion and Reconciliation Commission by the late President Mwai Kibaki. However, he resigned after three months, citing frustration over the lack of political will to resettle victims of the 2007 post-election violence.
Prof. Kindiki rose to national prominence when he was part of President Ruto’s legal team during the International Criminal Court (ICC) trial for crimes against humanity. This platform propelled him into the political limelight, leading to his election as Senator for Tharaka Nithi in 2013 under the TNA party.
He served two terms as Senator and was appointed Deputy Speaker in his second term. However, Kindiki’s tenure in the Senate ended abruptly when he faced impeachment, largely attributed to political differences between President Uhuru Kenyatta and then-Deputy President William Ruto.
With Prof. Kindiki’s nomination, the next steps include a review by the National Assembly. Parliament must deliberate on his qualifications and vote on his appointment within 60 days. If approved, Kindiki will officially replace Rigathi Gachagua as Deputy President.
