President William Ruto has nominated Prof. Kithure Kindiki to replace former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who was impeached by the Senate on Thursday.
The announcement of his appointment was made by National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula on Friday, October 18.
“Pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 42(1), I wish to report to the House that today morning I have received a message from the President regarding the nomination of Kithure Kindiki to fill the vacancy which has occurred in the Office of the Deputy President of the Republic of Kenya following the impeachment of the previous office holder,” stated Wetangula.
Kindiki, currently serving as Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration, will require approval from the National Assembly before his formal appointment by the president.
The former Tharaka Nithi Senator makes history as the first politician from Mount Kenya East to ascend to the second-highest office in the government.
The staunch lawyer and politician has been one of Ruto’s allies from early on in the last decade. His rise has been credited to his loyalty to Ruto from when he represented him at the ICC in Hague, Netherlands up to date.
How educated is Interior CS Kithure Kindiki? See his education profile
Born on July 16th, 1972 in Irunduni village, Tharaka Nithi County, Kindiki attended Irunduni Primary School, then Lenana School, before earning a law degree from Moi University.
The soft-spoken politician started his political career in 2013 when he won the Tharaka Nithi senatorial seat.
He served the people of Tharaka Nithi for two terms, winning back-to-back elections in 2013 and 2017.
Additionally, he served as Senate Majority Leader between 2013 and 2017, before being elected Deputy Speaker. He, however, lost the position in 2020 after siding with Ruto during the Jubilee Party’s internal power struggles.
He was one of the politicians who supported Ruto in the 2022 national campaigns, with many speculating Ruto would choose him as his right-hand man for the Deputy President’s position.
Following the victory, Ruto appointed him as the Interior Cabinet Secretary, a position he has held till his new nomination as Kenya’s new Deputy President.
