Ruto nominates interior minister as new deputy president
The decision comes hours after Rigathi Gachagua was impeached from office by the Senate on Thursday night even as he took in ill at a Nairobi hospital.
NAIROBI | Kenya's President William Ruto has nominated interior minister Kithure Kindiki as his new deputy president, the parliament speaker said on Friday.
"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 parliament.
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The decision comes hours after Rigathi Gachagua was impeached from office by the Senate on Thursday night even as he took in ill at a Nairobi hospital.
Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru was among the first leaders to congratulate Interior CS Kindiki after the nomination.
In an update on X on Friday, October 18, the Governor thanked those who rallied for her, further declaring her support for Kindiki as he awaits to take up his new role.
"My brother Professor Kindiki, my sincere congratulations. To you, history has placed an honor and responsibility accorded to only a few. May God guide you and William Ruto as you lead this great country to achieve its tremendous potential.
"To those that supported me for this position, I thank you. We must now dedicate our efforts to building a better Kenya under the leadership of Williams Ruto and Kindiki Kithure," Waiguru stated.
Gachagua was on Thursday, October 17, impeached following an intense Senate session that saw him failing to take the stand.
The Senate upheld the National Assembly's earlier vote, which cited 11 allegations against him, including corruption, abuse of office, and incitement of ethnic discord.
The Senate voted on each of the eleven allegations levelled against Gachagua attaining the 2/3rds which is 45 Senators on five counts out of eleven.
The threshold is that Gachagua needed to be found guilty on one of the charges meaning he stood impeached with the first charge.
