Nairobi — Kithure Kindiki has officially been sworn in as Kenya’s new Deputy President, becoming the third individual to hold this position. His appointment follows the impeachment of Rigathi Gachagua on October 17, marking a historic first under Kenya’s 2010 Constitution.
The swearing-in ceremony took place at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) at 10:42 a.m., led by Chief Registrar of the Judiciary, Winfrida Mokaya, and witnessed by Chief Justice Martha Koome. This event followed a ruling by a three-judge bench that lifted conservatory orders, previously blocking Kindiki from assuming office.
Gachagua’s impeachment was notable as he became the first Deputy President in Kenya’s history to be removed from office under the current constitutional framework. The judges—Eric Ogola, Anthony Mrima, and Dr. Freda Mugambi—emphasized that a prolonged vacancy in the Deputy President’s office would contradict constitutional provisions and be detrimental to public interest.
During the ceremony, Kindiki, accompanied by his wife, Dr. Joyce Kithure, took the oath of allegiance in front of an audience that included President William Ruto, the Speakers of the National Assembly and Senate, and several political leaders and Cabinet Secretaries, including Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi.
Just days before the swearing-in, a court in Kerugoya had issued a conservatory order preventing Kindiki’s inauguration, following his nomination by President Ruto to replace Gachagua. However, the bench ruled that the earlier orders did not imply Gachagua’s reinstatement, thus paving the way for Kindiki to assume his new role. The judges stated, “We are convinced that the current constitutional framework does not envision any scenario in which the office of the Deputy President would remain vacant except during the brief period required to fill a vacancy.”
Kindiki’s connection to President Ruto dates back over a decade, when he served as Ruto’s lawyer during a case at the International Criminal Court (ICC) related to the post-election violence in 2007 that resulted in over 1,200 deaths.
An accomplished academic, Kindiki holds a master’s degree and a PhD from the University of Pretoria and has published more than 30 scholarly works, including books and articles in peer-reviewed journals. Before his appointment as Deputy President, he served as the Interior Cabinet Secretary, a position currently held by Mudavadi in an acting capacity.
