In a surprise twist, Kenya’s High Court has issued a temporary order halting the replacement of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who was impeached by the senate on Thursday. This decision comes just minutes after both parliament and the senate approved Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki as the country’s new deputy.

Gachagua was removed from office after senators voted in favor of his impeachment on five out of 11 charges, including gross violation of the constitution. His ousting was hastened by his failure to appear before the senators on Thursday to defend himself. He had requested a postponement, citing his admission to hospital with chest pains, but this was denied.

In response, lawyers representing the ousted deputy president filed a court application to stop his removal from office, arguing that the allegations against him were unfounded and lacked supporting evidence. The court has now intervened, issuing an order that prevents President William Ruto from nominating a successor until Gachagua’s case is determined.

Kithure Kindiki, the proposed new deputy president, is a close ally of President Ruto. However, his appointment has been put on hold pending the outcome of Gachagua’s case. The matter will be brought before a full bench on October 24, which will determine the validity of the constitutional issues raised by Gachagua’s lawyers. This bench will be appointed by Chief Justice Martha Koome.

The impeachment process has been marked by controversy, with some lawmakers arguing that the allegations against Gachagua were politically motivated. The temporary court order has added a new layer of complexity to the saga, which will likely continue to unfold in the coming weeks.

For now, Kenya is left in a state of uncertainty, with the position of deputy president hanging in the balance. The nation waits with bated breath as the judiciary wrestles with the constitutional issues at play, and the fate of Gachagua and Kindiki hangs in the balance.