Professor Kisule Kindiki is scheduled to be sworn in at a ceremony scheduled for Saturday, October 19, at Uhuru Gardens in Nairobi.
Kenyans.co.ke has learned that the 53-year-old will be sworn in as president a day after Ligasi Gachagua’s impeachment, marking a rapid transition in the country’s leadership. Officials confirmed that President William Ruto is keen to speed up the process, but it remains unclear whether the ceremony will take place after the High Court issues the conservatory order.
Late on Friday, October 18, Senior Government Adviser Moses Kuria shared a video giving a glimpse of the preparations being made at Uhuru Gardens for the swearing-in ceremony. “Currently inspecting the site for tomorrow’s swearing-in ceremony of His Excellency Kitule Kundiki, 3rd Vice President of the 2010 Katiba regime,” Kuria said in a tweet.
Kindiki’s appointment makes him the country’s 13th vice president, and the third under the 2010 constitution. Before 2010, vice presidential appointments were often influenced by power brokers or left to the president’s discretion, and incumbents were under constant threat of being removed, fired, or ousted. .
The role has long been characterized by intense political maneuvering, and Gachagua’s tumultuous 766-day tenure was no exception.
William Ruto during a meeting with ministers on Tuesday, September 17. Photo/President.go.ke
Kindiki is well versed in the dynamics of national governance, having previously served as interior minister. Parliament approved his nomination on Friday, with 236 MPs voting overwhelmingly in favor of the appointment, after a minor technical glitch that required a second electronic vote.
Speaker Moses Wetangula announced the results and declared, “The nomination is hereby declared passed by the House of Representatives,” setting the stage for Kindiki to replace the ousted Gachagua.
The ceremony was conducted under Article 148 of the Constitution, which requires the Chief Justice or his deputy to supervise the oath. The swift transition is aimed at avoiding leaving the country without a vice president for too long and stabilizing leadership during a politically charged period.
Despite his imminent swearing-in, the political storm surrounding Gachagua’s removal shows no signs of abating. The former vice president, who is currently admitted to Karen Hospital with “severe chest pains”, has taken legal action to challenge his removal. His hospitalization adds a dramatic twist to an already tense atmosphere as people fight to maintain their positions.
Kindiki, who was born in Tharaka constituency on July 16, 1972, is in line to become Kenya’s second-in-command, but narrowly missed out on the role in 2022. He is a veteran advocate at the High Court of Kenya with over 20 years of legal experience, where he has demonstrated his legal acumen by representing domestic and international clients.
His acceptance across political lines and his close relationship with President Ruto, whom he defended in the International Criminal Court case, further strengthened his position.
Home Affairs CS Kisre Kindiki addresses the Parliamentary Administration and Internal Security Committee on Thursday, September 26th. Photo/Kisre Kindiki.
