Kindiki Kithure has been sworn in as Kenya’s new deputy president, two weeks after his predecessor Rigathi Gachagua was overwhelmingly voted out in an impeachment motion in parliament over allegations of corruption and inciting ethnic division.
Kithure took office on November 1, 2024, in an official ceremony that began at 10:42 a.m. when the Judiciary Mace was placed in the swearing-in arena at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi in the attendance of a number of government officials and other guests.
President William Samoei Ruto nominated Kindiki for the deputy role on October 18, 2024. On October 31, 2024, a three-judge bench lifted conservatory orders that had previously barred Kindiki from assuming office.
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Kindiki called the event a celebration of the constitution and our democracy and committed to be loyal and faithful to the president.
“I have come to believe that Kenya is the country of possibility. For a person such as me to stand here today and take the oath of office of deputy president, it can only happen in Kenya,” he said.
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President Ruto urged Kindiki not to serve himself, families, communities, regions, or villages, but to serve the Republic of Kenya and the people of Kenya.
The former deputy president was impeached and removed from office by a vote of more than two-thirds of legislators on October 17, 2024, on 11 charges, among others including corruption, inciting ethnic divisions, and support for anti-government protests.
