From lecturer to CS: Kindiki's illustrious career in politics, academia
By Maureen Kinyanjui |
Kindiki, who was part of the 22 Cabinet nominees fronted by President William Ruto, told MPs he was confident he'd deliver in the Interior docket.
Former Tharaka Nithi Senator and Interior Cabinet Secretary nominee Kithure Kindiki laid bare his eminent career in politics and academia on Thursday during his vetting for the post by the National Assembly.
Kindiki, who was part of the 22 Cabinet nominees fronted by President William Ruto, told MPs he was confident he'd deliver in the Interior docket.
The assurance followed concerns by a section of the Appointments Committee of the National Assembly about their 'not so good' experiences with members of academia who have held the post.
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Kindiki was born in Tharaka 52 years ago, went to school in Tharaka, and later joined Lenana School before proceeding to Moi University in 1998, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Law degree.
The same year, the former Senator pursued further studies at the University of Pretoria in South Africa and earned a Masters in Law.
Kindiki then obtained a PhD in international law at the same institution in 2002.
After South Africa, the nominee has been a law lecturer at many universities.
Kindiki served as a teacher at Moi University from 1999 to 2003, at UoN from 2003 to 2005, as the Head of the Public Law Department from 2005 to 2007, and as the Associate Dean of the School of Law at UoN from 2007 to 2010.
In addition to being an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya, Kindiki also holds a license to practice law at the International Criminal Court in The Hague.
The Interior CS nominee further revealed that he has been a consultant for many UN agencies, as well as COMESA, EAC, IGAD, the African Union, and many local and international NGOs.
Kindiki has also published 35 publications, including books and academic articles.
POLITICS
Kindiki left the university and ventured into politics. He contested and won the Tharaka Nithi Senate seat in the 2013 general elections.
Jubilee elected Kindiki as the majority leader of the Senate from 2013 to 2017.
He won reelection as a senator in the 2017 general elections and held the position of Deputy Senate Speaker in the 12th Parliament until 2020.
A motion of no confidence in May 2020 ousted Kindiki as Deputy Speaker because of his alignment with then-Deputy President William Ruto.
He was poised to become Ruto's running mate in 2022, but the selection of Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua led to his removal.
However, President William Ruto appointed Kindiki to the Interior Docket in October 2022, a position he held until the firing of the entire cabinet last month, with the exception of Prime CS Musalia Mudavadi.
The National Assembly Appointment Committee will vet him and five other CS nominees on Thursday.
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