 "Quicksplained: Who is Kithure Kindiki, Kenya's new deputy president?")
Kenya is witnessing a lot of political action. On Thursday (October 17), Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua was ousted from office in a historic move, following his impeachment. This is the first time that a deputy president has been removed since impeachment was introduced in Kenya’s revised 2010 constitution. He has now been replaced with Kithure Kindiki.
Gachagua, popularly known as Riggy G, was to appear in the Senate to defend himself on the 11 charges he had pleaded not guilty just a day earlier, reported the BBC. However, his lawyer showed up and requested for a postponement stating that Gachagua had been hospitalised after suffering chest pains.
However, it seems his hospitalisation didn’t stop his impeachment and President William Ruto has appointed Kithure Kindiki to be his deputy.
Kenyan speaker Moses Wetang’ula said in parliament, “I have received a message from … the president, regarding the nomination of Professor Kithure Kindiki to fill the vacancy which has occurred in the office.”
Here is all you need to know about him.
Who is Kithure Kindiki?
Kindiki is a law professor-turned-politician, who stepped into the limelight when he defended Ruto at the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Born in Mount Kenya region, the 52-year-old taught law at university before joining the government in 2008 as secretary of national cohesion following the election violence.
Although he has been praised by supporters for having a common touch, he has been under fire for alleged police brutality during anti-government protests that rocked Kenya earlier this year.
He has also faced scrutiny over his $5.4 million wealth, which he insists comes largely from his law firm and other small businesses.
In 2011, he was chosen by Ruto, then an opposition MP, to join his legal team to fight charges of crimes against humanity at the ICC over 2007-08 post-election tribal violence that killed more than 1,100 people.
The cases against both Ruto and former President Uhuru Kenyatta eventually collapsed, which was blamed by the prosecution on witness intimidation.
He joined the government in 2008 as secretary of national cohesion but only served in the post for 100 days. He was soon back in the classroom, before his ICC role.
Kindiki was elected a senator in 2013 and again in 2017.
He became a casualty of the Kenyatta-Ruto fallout in the run-up to the 2022 election, removed as deputy Senate speaker in a purge of Ruto allies.
Many had expected Ruto to pick Kindiki as his running mate in 2022, but Gachagua came out on top.
Ruto later rewarded Kindiki with the plum role of interior minister.
He became the target of public anger when he defended police actions during the youth-led demonstrations which saw at least 60 people killed.
Ruto sacked Kindiki in July along with almost all government ministers but he was swiftly reappointed to a revamped cabinet.
With inputs from agencies
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