NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Kenya’s president on Friday nominated the country’s interior minister as his new deputy, hours after Rigathi Gachagua was overwhelmingly voted out as vice president in an impeachment motion introduced in Parliament over allegations of corruption and ethnic division.
President William Ruto on Friday appointed Kithure Kindiki to the National Assembly after Gachagua was ousted while he was in hospital.
Kindiki was one of the front-runners for vice president during the 2022 election campaign. Like Gachagua, he comes from the vote-rich central region.
Gachagua remains in hospital with what his lawyer described as “intense chest pain” related to stress. It is expected that he will challenge his impeachment in court.
“I have received a message from His Excellency the President, regarding the appointment of Professor Kithure Kindiki to fill the vacancy created in the office of Vice President,” Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula said.
The General Assembly is expected to vote to approve Kindiki’s appointment.
The former vice president’s supporters have criticized the impeachment trial for being rushed after senators voted against allowing additional days to give Gachagua time to recover and appear before the Senate.
His ouster exposed divisions within the ruling party and friction between Ruto and Gachagua over government policies. The former vice president was accused of insubordination when he opposed the government’s policy of forced evictions during heavy rains that caused flooding and deaths.
During his defense before the Assembly last week, Gachagua said he believed the impeachment motion had the president’s nod, and he has asked lawmakers to make their decision “without intimidation and coercion.” Ruto has not publicly commented on the impeachment.
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. But public opposition led him to shake up his cabinet and back away from certain proposals.
