Kenyan President William Ruto has solidified his grip on power with the National Assembly’s unanimous approval of Interior Secretary Kithure Kindiki as his new deputy, Bloomberg reports.
The appointment, which was confirmed by 236 lawmakers in a special sitting on Friday, follows the impeachment of former deputy Rigathi Gachagua, who was accused of inciting ethnic hatred and undermining the judiciary.
Gachagua, who has denied any wrongdoing, is expected to challenge his removal in court. The impeachment comes amidst a backdrop of anti-government protests sparked by planned tax increases, which led to violent clashes and resulted in the deaths of at least 60 people.
Kindiki, a law professor with a strong reputation in human rights and international law, is seen as a stabilizing force for the government. His appointment is expected to enable Ruto to focus on implementing economic reforms necessary to address Kenya’s financial woes, including a high risk of debt distress and rampant corruption.
The recent unrest and Gachagua’s impeachment highlight tensions within Ruto’s ruling alliance. While Gachagua played a crucial role in securing votes from the Kikuyu community, the largest ethnic group in Kenya, during the 2022 election, the two leaders were not known to be close allies.
Kindiki, a close ally of Ruto, served as his lawyer during war-crimes charges at the International Criminal Court stemming from the 2008 ethnic violence. The case was eventually dropped due to lack of evidence.
As deputy president, Kindiki will serve as Ruto’s principal assistant and chair a forum that unites the 47 counties with the national government.
