NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Kenya’s new vice president has been sworn in, two weeks after his predecessor was overwhelmingly voted out of office in an impeachment motion in parliament over allegations of corruption and incitement to ethnic division.
Kindiki Kithure took office on Friday after a colorful event in the capital Nairobi, attended by government officials and Western envoys, among others.
His swearing-in was approved by the court on Thursday after orders suspending the swearing-in were lifted despite an ongoing lawsuit against the impeachment of the previous vice president, Rigathi Gachagua.
Gachagua is challenging the impeachment at the High Court in Nairobi, arguing that the allegations are unsubstantiated and that the hearings were unfair.
The former vice president was impeached and removed from office on October 17 by more than two-thirds of lawmakers on charges of corruption, inciting ethnic divisions and supporting anti-government protests. President William Ruto nominated Kindiki for the deputy role the next day.
Gachagua’s ouster had exposed divisions within the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and friction between Ruto and Gachagua, both UDA members. Gachagua had been accused of insubordination when he opposed the government’s policy of forced evictions during heavy rains that caused flooding and deaths.
New Vice President Kindiki called Friday’s event a celebration of the “Constitution and our democracy” and pledged to be loyal and faithful to the president.
President Ruto urged him to “please serve the people of Kenya”, adding that they, like all public servants, are not in office for personal interests and that all leaders serve at the pleasure of the people of Kenya and must uphold the constitution and rule of the country. law.
Kindiki – the former interior minister – holds the office of vice president at a time when arbitrary arrests and enforced disappearances in Kenya have raised concerns among Western envoys and human rights groups. The country is also experiencing economic hardship with rising costs of living and new taxes.
In June, the country witnessed a series of nationwide anti-government protests over a finance bill proposing to raise taxes, culminating in the storming and burning of parliament on June 25, when several protesters were shot dead outside the gates of parliament.
Ruto, who came to power claiming to represent Kenya’s poorest citizens, has faced widespread criticism over his attempts to raise taxes to pay off foreign creditors. Public opposition led him to shake up his cabinet and back away from certain proposals.
