By Lucy Adautin
Kenyan President William Ruto, on Friday, nominated his interior minister as his new deputy following the dismissal of Rigathi Gachagua, who was ousted in a landmark impeachment.
Kithuri Kindiki, a 52-year-old scholar turned influential politician, emerged as a top contender for the role after Kenyan media speculated about possible replacements. This came after the Senate’s dramatic decision late Thursday to remove Gachagua.
The impeachment of Gachagua, Ruto’s running mate in the 2022 election, captivated the East African nation, which is known for its relative political stability despite the volatile regional landscape.
On Friday, the political saga continued as National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula announced Ruto’s pick, Kindiki, calling on legislators to expedite the confirmation vote for his appointment.
Kindiki, who has been the interior minister in Ruto’s government for over two years, faced criticism earlier this year for alleged police brutality during anti-government protests that erupted across the country, some of which turned deadly.
The Senate moved forward with Gachagua’s impeachment proceedings on Thursday, convicting him of five out of 11 charges in his absence, as the 59-year-old embattled leader was hospitalized.
This marks the first time a deputy president has been impeached under Kenya’s updated 2010 constitution.
Gachagua was unable to defend himself, having been rushed to a hospital in Nairobi, causing confusion in the Senate session.
His legal team’s plea to delay the hearing was denied, prompting them to walk out in protest.
Kenyan newspapers headlined the news on Friday, with The Standard featuring Gachagua’s image alongside the headline “Fired,” while The Nation described the event as “The night of long knives that sealed Gachagua’s fate.”
Gachagua’s removal followed his fallout with Ruto, whom he had helped secure a hard-fought victory in the 2022 elections, particularly by rallying the Mount Kenya region.
Earlier, on October 8, the National Assembly had overwhelmingly voted for his impeachment.
Gachagua was admitted to Karen Hospital with chest pains and was expected to remain there for 48-72 hours for observation and tests, according to cardiologist Dan Gikonyo, who stated his condition was stable.
‘Gross violation’ Gachagua was found guilty of several charges, including “gross violation” of the constitution, threatening judges, and promoting ethnic division. However, he was acquitted of other accusations such as corruption and money laundering.
Despite his denial of the charges and the absence of any criminal cases against him, Gachagua could still contest his impeachment in court. However, his previous efforts to halt the process before the Senate vote were unsuccessful.
A prominent businessman and leader of Kenya’s largest ethnic group, the Kikuyu, Gachagua, popularly known as “Riggy G,” had survived earlier corruption scandals to become Ruto’s deputy in 2022.
Recently, however, Gachagua had expressed frustration over being sidelined by Ruto and was accused of backing anti-government protests that began in June.
Although Ruto has remained silent on the impeachment, Gachagua has publicly claimed that the move could not have happened without Ruto’s approval.
