By Enyichukwu Enemanna
A High Court sitting in Nairobi, Kenya on Friday issued an interim injunction halting the replacement of the country’s Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua who has been impeached by both the Parliament and Senate.
All 236 Senate members had on Thursday voted for the removal of the Deputy President, Gachagua, and replaced with the Interior Minister, Prof. Kindiki Kithure who was nominated by President William Ruto as his new deputy.
The presiding judge, Justice Chacha Mwita ordered that the status quo should remain till October 24 when the matter will be mentioned before a bench to be appointed by the Chief Justice.
A second court order said Kindiki cannot assume office until the case is heard.
Gachagua was impeached on five out of an 11-count charges brought against him, including gross violation of the constitution and stirring ethnic hatred, accusations he has repeatedly denied and dismissed as politically motivated.
Kindiki was a top contender to be Ruto’s running mate during the 2022 election and was appointed interior minister shortly after the president took office in September that year.
The embattled Deputy President Gachagua helped Ruto secure a large block of votes from the populous central Kenya region during the 2022 election that brought the duo to power.
He has however in recent months alleged of being sidelined as his relations with the President becomes strained. He was accused of backing the anti-government protests against a bill to raise tax.
Gachagua, who was hospitalised and absent during the Senate hearing on his impeachment had on Friday filed a petition seeking to stop Ruto from naming his replacement pending a judicial hearing, a court filing showed.
