A Kenyan court has lifted orders blocking the swearing-in of Deputy President nominee Kithuri Kindiki, dealing a blow to former DP Rigathi Gachagua who was impeached and removed from office in mid-October amid accusations of gross misconduct and undermining the president.
The three-judge bench appointed to hear the case by the deputy chief justice made the highly anticipated announcement on Thursday. “Public interest in this matter favors giving way to the constitution, which in any event is the will of the people,” said Judge Antony Mrima.
President William Ruto had 14 days after Gachagua’s removal to replace him, and he took less than a day to nominate Interior Minister Kindiki. The selection was quickly approved by lawmakers at the National Assembly.
However, the court had earlier suspended any further action until it could hear the case. Gachagua’s lawyers had filed about 30 court cases arguing against his ouster in the last two weeks, contesting the validity of the judges’ appointment and their impartiality.
Gachagua was Ruto’s running mate in the 2022 election but had recently complained of being left out, highlighting the friction and tension between him and his former boss. Gachagua was convicted on five of the 11 charges against him, which included accusations of gross misconduct, irregular acquisition of wealth and undermining the president.
Public opinion on the matter has been mixed, with some agreeing with Gachagua’s removal while others found it distasteful, especially because the deputy president fell ill while the proceedings were happening.
The court’s decision to lift the orders paves the way for Kindiki’s swearing-in, marking a significant shift in Kenya’s political landscape.
