Kenyan President William Ruto nominated his interior minister, Kithure Kindiki, as the new deputy president on Friday, following the historic impeachment of Rigathi Gachagua.
Gachagua was removed from office after a dramatic Senate vote late Thursday, making him the first deputy president to be impeached under Kenya’s 2010 constitution.
Kindiki, a 52-year-old academic who transitioned into politics, was a leading candidate for the post, as speculated by Kenyan media. The Senate’s decision came despite Gachagua’s absence, as he was rushed to a hospital in Nairobi with chest pains and did not testify in his defense. Chief cardiologist Dan Gikonyo informed reporters that Gachagua was in stable condition and would remain under observation for 48-72 hours.
The National Assembly speaker, Moses Wetangula, announced Ruto’s choice of Kindiki, urging parliament to proceed with the confirmation vote. Kindiki has served as interior minister in Ruto’s government for over two years but has faced criticism over alleged police brutality during anti-government protests earlier in the year.
Gachagua’s impeachment was based on five out of 11 charges, including “gross violation” of the constitution, threatening judges, and practicing ethnically divisive politics. However, he was cleared of charges related to corruption and money laundering. Despite denying all allegations, he has not yet faced criminal prosecution.
Gachagua’s legal team appealed for a delay in the Senate hearings due to his health condition, but the request was denied, leading his lawyers to walk out in protest. The Senate’s decision follows the National Assembly’s overwhelming vote for impeachment on October 8.
Kenyan newspapers widely covered the event, with *The Standard* featuring Gachagua’s image and the headline “Fired,” while *The Nation* described it as “The night of long knives that sealed Gachagua’s fate.”
Gachagua’s impeachment marks the culmination of a bitter falling out with President Ruto. Gachagua, also known as “Riggy G,” had been instrumental in securing support from the Mount Kenya region during the tightly contested 2022 election. Despite his influence as a businessman from the Kikuyu community, the largest ethnic group in Kenya, recent tensions with Ruto saw him sidelined.
In recent weeks, Gachagua claimed he was marginalized by the president and was accused of supporting youth-led anti-government protests in June. Although he has the option to challenge the impeachment in court, previous attempts to halt the process ahead of the Senate vote were unsuccessful.
President Ruto has not publicly commented on the impeachment, but Gachagua has suggested that the proceedings could not have occurred without Ruto’s approval.
