The High court has barred any attempts to swear in New Deputy President Elect Professor Kithure Kindiki, until a petition filed by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is heard and determined.
Justice Chacha Mwita ordered Gachagua’s legal team led by Senior Counsel Paul Muite to serve all the respondents and the matter be heard on October, 24, 2024.
On Friday, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula said all 236 members of Parliament present during the sitting voted in favour of Professor Kindiki with none having a different opinion on the motion during a roll-call voting exercise.
His name has been forwarded back to President William Ruto who will assent and constitutional and legal processes of swearing in Professor Kindiki to follow.
However, the hurried process has been halted by the courts, despite Kindiki eagerly waiting for formal appointment by President Ruto to take the oath of office.
“The nomination is passed by the house and the Speaker will transmit the same to the appointing authority who is the President. The Speaker will also sign a gazette notice to this effect that the nominee, the Deputy President has been duly voted by the house,” said Wetangula.
The 52-year old Professor, with a glowing law career has been at the helm of the most powerful docket in the country, the Interior and Coordination of the National Government. A position he held from October, 2022 until July, when President Ruto dissolved his cabinet, however Kindiki was reappointed to the same Ministry where he served todate.
The Deputy President Elect is expected to resign to take up the new second in command role.
However, in a twist of events, the high court has barred any attempts to swear in Professor Kithure Kindiki until the case presented by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua lawyers is heard and determined.
Justice Chacha Mwita has ordered Senior Counsel Paul Muite to serve the respondents and the matter be heard on October 24th, 2024.
On Thursday, the Senate outed Rigathi Gachagua on 11 counts among them abuse of office, the constitution and graft among others.
On Friday morning, President William Ruto forwarded the name of Professor Kindiki as the new Deputy President which was then hurriedly passed at the National Assembly on Friday.
