Kenya’s new Deputy President sworn in after legal challenges

Kenyan President William Ruto poses for a photo with Kenya’s new Vice President Kithure Kindiki. Photo courtesy: AFP

Kenya’s new vice president Kithur Kindiki was sworn in on Friday (November 1, 2024) after a court lifted orders blocking his inauguration following weeks of legal challenges by his predecessor, who was impeached by parliament last month. Was imposed.

The Senate voted to remove previous Vice President Rigathy Gachagua from office in October on charges including gross violation of the constitution and inciting ethnic hatred – charges he dismissed as politically motivated.

Kenya’s High Court had blocked Mr Kindiki’s inauguration after Mr Gachagua and his supporters filed more than 30 court challenges to block his dismissal and replacement.

But the stay order was lifted on Thursday, with the judges saying that as per the Constitution the post of Vice President should not remain vacant.

Mr. Gachagua’s legal battle continues several months of political turmoil in the country with East Africa’s largest economy, which began in June with nationwide protests against unpopular tax increases.

President William Ruto invited opposition members into his Cabinet to form a unity government in an effort to ease tensions after protesters stormed Parliament in July.

The political realignment also sidelined Mr Gachagua, who had helped secure a large block of votes from the populous Mount Kenya region during Mr Ruto’s election campaign. Since then the two men have had a falling out.

Ruto has not commented on the impeachment proceedings but last month called for national unity and an end to “tribalism and exclusion”.

Mr Gachagua has compared the government to a shareholder company, suggesting that those who voted for the ruling coalition were entitled to preferential access to government jobs.

Speaking after Kindiki was sworn in, Mr Ruto told his new deputy to “serve the people of Kenya equally, those who voted for us and those who did not vote for us. The Government of Kenya belongs to all the people equally “

Mr Kindiki was a leading contender to become Ruto’s potential running mate during the 2022 elections and was appointed interior minister soon after the president took office in September that year.