By Spy Uganda Correspondent
Interior minister Kithure Kindiki was appointed as President William Ruto’s deputy on Friday, hours after the Senate voted to impeach the last man in the job.
Ruto nominated Kindiki, a close ally, and parliament gave its approval on Friday afternoon. It comes after a period of political turmoil, mass protests and the first removal of a Kenyan deputy president by impeachment.
“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,” Speaker Moses Wetang’ula said in the National Assembly.
The former deputy, Rigathi Gachagua, was impeached on five out of 11 charges including gross violation of the constitution and stirring ethnic hatred – accusations that he 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 interior ministry includes oversight of the police. Rights groups have accused the police of using excessive force during protests earlier this year that called for the withdrawal of a now-shelved finance law and reforms to tackle corruption.
During an appearance before parliament in September, Kindiki said police acted within the law and that the government did not engage in extrajudicial killings or abductions.
Gachagua backed Ruto in his 2022 election win and helped secure a large block of votes from the populous central Kenya region. But in recent months, he has spoken of being side-lined, amid widespread reports in local media signalling a rift with Ruto as political alliances shifted.
Police and state emergency services said Wednesday the driver lost control of the vehicle leading to a fuel spill which exploded killing at least 147 people
Gachagua, who was hospitalised and absent during the Senate vote to dismiss him, filed a petition on Friday seeking to stop Ruto from naming his replacement pending a judicial hearing, a court filing showed.
The 59-year-old politician has filed or is a party to multiple cases challenging the impeachment process.
