Ruto nominates CS Kithure Kindiki as next deputy President

President William Ruto has picked Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki as his nominee for deputy president.

This comes after the Senate upheld the impeachment of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua on Thursday night.

The announcement has been made by National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula in a communication to the House.

Making the announcement on Friday, Speaker Wetang’ula told the House that he had received a communication from the President.

“I have received a message from the President on the nomination of Professor Kithure Kindiki to fill the vacancy in the office of the Deputy President of the Republic of Kenya,” he said.

In his communique, President Ruto says he had sought and received clearances from the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB), and the Commission for University Education (CUE) with respect to Kindiki’s candidacy as his deputy.

“Now therefore, I William Samoei Ruto, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces, pursuant to Article 149 (1) of the Constitution, do hereby nominate Prof Kithure Kindiki PhD, EGH, for consideration and confirmation through a vote of the National Assembly to be the next Deputy President of the Republic of Kenya,” Ruto said in his communique.

With the communication, the head of state also forwarded the necessary documents about Kindiki.

They include a copy of his certificate of birth, certified true copy of his national identity card, certified copies of his university degrees and other academic certificates and certification of foreign university degrees by the Commission for University Education (CUE).

Also submitted are his curriculum vitae and testimonials, confirmation of compliance with the Constitution from the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), confirmation of citizen status by the Office of the Registrar of Persons, and confirmation of membership status in a political party from the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) among others.

According to the Constitution, Article 144, within 14 days after a vacancy in the office of Deputy President arises, the President shall nominate a person to fill the vacancy.

The name is then sent to the National Assembly for vetting.

President William Ruto greets Interior CS Kithure Kindiki. (Photo: Handout)

“ The National Assembly shall vote on the nomination within sixty days after receiving it,” reads the Constitution.

Already, the National Assembly is holding a special sitting today (Friday) ahead of the planned short recess next week.

National Assembly Majority Whip Sylvinus Osoro moved the Motion on Alteration of the Calendar and Resolution during the Wednesday morning session to approve the alteration of the calendar.

Kindiki has been serving as the Interior CS for the past 25 months.

However, he is now steps away from becoming the second in command.

Nonetheless, he will be vetted by the Parliament and if approved, appointed to the role by the President.