Kenya’s parliament has approved the nomination of Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kithure Kindiki as the country’s new deputy president, following the impeachment of Rigathi Gachagua, who had held the position for two years.
However, shortly after the unanimous decision on Friday, the East African nation’s high court issued an order blocking the appointment in response to a challenge Gachagua filed against his removal, local media reported.
The case raises “serious constitutional issues,” Capital FM cited Justice Chacha Mwita as saying. He ordered the suspension of the senate resolution upholding Gachagua’s impeachment charges until a debate by judges on October 24.
The country’s senators approved Gachagua’s dismissal on Thursday evening for violating the constitution, making him the first official to be removed since impeachment was introduced in Kenya’s amended 2010 constitution.
The former vice president had earlier pleaded not guilty to 11 charges that included corruption, engaging in ethnically divisive politics, and inciting anti-government unrest. He had been due to defend himself at a trial on Thursday, but his defense team said he could not testify due to hospitalization. The senate refused to postpone its decision and voted to oust Gachagua after finding him guilty of five of the allegations, including inciting ethnic hatred. He was cleared of money laundering and corruption accusations.
The ouster came amid Gachagua’s alleged strained relationship with President William Ruto, whom he backed in winning the 2022 presidential election as a running mate. He is said to have played a key role in securing a large number of votes from the populous central Kenya region where he comes from.
Gachagua has claimed that the impeachment is politically motivated, labeling the accusations against him false and “extremely outrageous.”
On Friday, Gachagua filed a court appeal against his replacement after National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula announced that Ruto had nominated Interior Minister Kindiki.
“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,” Wetang’ula said in parliament, according to Reuters.
Kindiki, 52, is a close ally of the president and served as his lawyer during his trial by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity following the 2007-2008 post-election violence in Kenya, which killed 1,200 people. The case was eventually closed due to a lack of evidence.
He was reportedly a top contender for the deputy president position in the 2022 elections but was instead appointed interior minister shortly after Ruto’s swearing-in.