Parliament Approves Ruto's Nomination Of Kithure Kindiki As Deputy President
This comes after Ruto forwarded Kindiki's name to the National Assembly on Friday morning, aiming to replace Rigathi Gachagua who was impeached by the Senate on Thursday.
Viral Tea Ke Writer 
Members of the National Assembly have approved President William Ruto's nomination of Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kithure Kindiki as the Deputy President of the Republic of Kenya.
The MPs voted through a roll call method. They were to initially vote electronically as per the House Business Committee’s directive, but the electronic voting system malfunctioned.
A total number of 236 MPs have voted in favour of Kindiki’s nomination, with zero abstentions. This now makes the former Tharaka Nithi Senator a Deputy President-elect, ahead of his appointment by Ruto and swearing-in.
"Honourable members, the vote of the nominate of Professor Kithure Kindiki to fill the vacancy of the office of the deputy president of the Republic of Kenya is as follows, abstentions are nil, no is nil and ayes are 236, the vote is overwhelming yes," Speaker Wetangula declared.
National Assembly Speaker, Moses Wetangula during a past House session. /FILE
"The nomination is hereby declared passed by the house and the speaker will transmit the results to the president and the speaker will also sign a gazette notice with this effect and the nominee for the position of the deputy president has been voted by the house and will be transmitted to the appointing authority," the speaker added.
This comes after Ruto forwarded Kindiki's name to the National Assembly on Friday morning, aiming to replace Rigathi Gachagua who was impeached by the Senate on Thursday.
The announcement was made on Friday morning, October 18 by Speaker Moses Wetangula in a communication to the National Assembly.
"Pursuant to the provisions of Standing Order 42(1), I wish to report to the House that today morning, I have received a message from the President regarding the nomination of Kithure Kindiki to fill the vacancy which has occurred in the Office of the Deputy President of the Republic of Kenya following the impeachment of the previous office holder," stated Wetangula.
The approval means that Kindiki will have to relinquish his role as Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration.
He required approval from the National Assembly before assuming the role of Deputy President. The Assembly had to vote on the nomination within 60 days of receiving the name.
The nomination came merely hours after the Senate voted to impeach Gachagua following a two-day process that involved extensive evidence and hours of cross-examination.
Gachagua was removed after Senators supported five of the 11 grounds presented for his impeachment key among them gross violation of the Constitution.
"Now Honourable Senators, pursuant to articles 145 and 150 of the constitution, the Senate has resolved to remove from office by impeachment, Rigathi Gachagua, the Deputy President of the Republic of Kenya. Accordingly, he ceases to hold office," announced Senate Speaker, Amason Kingi.
Grounds in Which Gachagua Was Impeached
- Ground 1 - Shareholding remarks
- Ground 4 - Undermining the Independence of Judges
- Ground 5 - National Cohesion & Integrity Act
- Ground 6 - Crimes under the National Cohesion Act
- Ground 9 - Gross Misconduct by publicly attacking the NIS
