Kithure Kindiki was sworn in as Kenya’s deputy president Friday, less than 24 hours after a court lifted orders blocking his nomination to replace impeached DP Rigathi Gachagua, who has filed lawsuits to regain his position.
In a televised ceremony at Nairobi’s Kenyatta International Convention Center, Kindiki said he will always serve his country and will not let down President William Ruto, who appointed him.
Ruto told attendees he knows his former interior minister as “a dedicated professional,” and “a patriot whose dedication to cohesion, national unity and inclusivity is beyond reproach.”
Kindiki has been part of Ruto’s cabinet for two years and came under fire for supporting alleged police brutality during anti-government protests earlier this year.
He also faced criticism when Kenya decided to send police forces to Haiti, a deployment he and his boss vehemently defended.
The swearing in ceremony took place 24 hours after a court lifted orders blocking Kindiki’s nomination, dealing a blow to former DP Gachagua, who was impeached and removed from office in mid-October amid accusations of gross misconduct and undermining the president.
Gachagua’s lawyers filed about 30 court cases arguing against the decision in the last two weeks.
A three-judge bench appointed to hear the case made the highly anticipated announcement Thursday.
“Public interest in this matter favors giving way to the constitution, which in any event is the will of the people,” said Judge Antony Mrima, who heard the case along with Eric Ogola and Freda Mugambi.
“We choose to abide by that calling, as such public interest demands that the office of the deputy president should not remain vacant.”
President Ruto took less than a day to nominate Kindiki, after Gachagua’s removal from office. The selection was approved by lawmakers in the National Assembly a few hours later.
However, the court suspended any further action until it could hear the case. Since then, the three-judge bench has faced questions and petitions from Gachagua’s lawyers contesting the validity of their appointment and their own impartiality. Those challenges were rejected.
Gachagua was convicted on five of 11 charges against him, which included accusations of gross misconduct, irregular acquisition of wealth and undermining the president. Gachagua has denied all the charges.
