Kenya’s High Court has lifted an injunction that had prevented Kithure Kindiki from being sworn in as deputy president following the impeachment of his predecessor, Rigathi Gachagua.
Gachagua was removed from office two weeks ago when Parliament overwhelmingly passed an impeachment motion against him, creating a wave of political tension across the country.
After Gachagua’s ouster, President William Ruto quickly nominated Kindiki, currently serving as the interior minister, to take over as deputy president.
However, Gachagua challenged his removal in court, describing it as “politically motivated.”
Following parliamentary approval of Kindiki’s nomination, the court initially delayed his swearing-in due to Gachagua’s legal objections.
On Thursday, a panel of three judges lifted the suspension, stating that leaving the deputy president’s office vacant for too long was “untenable” and that continuity in the nation’s leadership was essential.
Nonetheless, the court ruled that Gachagua’s challenge to his impeachment could proceed, allowing him to appeal the decision.
During the impeachment proceedings, lawmakers upheld charges against Gachagua for allegedly inciting ethnic tensions and violating his oath of office.
Despite multiple legal attempts to halt the impeachment process, Gachagua, popularly known as “Riggy G,” vowed to contest his dismissal, arguing that he was denied a fair hearing and that the charges against him were unsubstantiated.
He was removed from office while hospitalized.
The 59-year-old businessman from the Mount Kenya region, which strongly backed Ruto in the 2022 elections, became the first deputy president to be impeached under Kenya’s 2010 constitution.
Kindiki, a 52-year-old former law professor also from Mount Kenya, was previously seen as a strong contender for the deputy president role.
Gachagua’s impeachment marks the peak of a growing rift with President Ruto, intensifying after protests erupted in June against tax hikes, which exposed divisions within the ruling party.
Source-BBC
