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| Outgoing Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki |
Outgoing Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki will be sworn in as the new deputy president in Nairobi on Friday, November 1. Outgoing Interior CS Kithure Kindiki will be sworn in on Friday, November 1, to take over the deputy president’s post. A gazette notice published by secretary to the Cabinet Mercy Wanjau indicated Kindiki’s inauguration will take place at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC), from 10am. Wanjau is also the chairperson of the Office of the Deputy President Assumption Committee.
“It is notified for the general information of the public that the swearing-in ceremony of the Deputy President-designate shall take place on Friday, 1st November, 2024, at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), in Nairobi City County, from 10.00 O’clock in the forenoon,” read the gazette notice. Inside Kithure Kindiki’s inauguration Expected to preside over the fete in front of President William Ruto, and other ranking state dignitaries and the diplomatic corps is Chief Justice Martha Koome. Upon taking the oath of office, Kindiki will address the country in his maiden speech, in which he is expected to accept his new role and outline his approach to the new mandate accorded to him.
Meanwhile, the government declared Friday, the inauguration day, a public holiday. The 21-member Office of the Deputy President Assumption Committee will oversee Kindiki’s swearing-in and ensure that it meets constitutional requirements. The committee comprises ranking government officials, such as Attorney-General Dorcas Oduor, Chief Registrar of the Judiciary Winfridah Mokaya, and Principal Secretary of Defence Patrick Mariru. Other members are drawn from key sectors, including security, finance, devolution, and foreign affairs. The committee will also have joint secretaries Patrick Mwangi and Kipchumba Karori to coordinate the logistics.
How High Court aided Kindiki’s inauguration Kindiki’s swearing-in preparations came into life following the High Court’s decision to lift the stay orders deposed deputy president Rigathi Gachagua secured to block his replacement. A trio of High Court judges namely; Antony Mrima, Eric Ogola, and Freda Mugambi dismissed the arguments advanced by Gachagua’s legal team. In their ruling, the judges argued that the deputy president’s office, as envisioned by the 2010 Constitution, can never be vacant, hence they vacated the conservatory orders. Petitioners David Munyi and Peter Gichobi moved to court on October 18 to block Kindiki’s swearing-in until the hearing of cases against Gachagua’s impeachment. During the case proceedings, Gachagua argued that Kindiki’s nomination as DP was illegal, as the outgoing Interior Cabinet secretary was ineligible as he was not a member of the UDA party.
by Kai Eli