I played no role in Gachagua's ouster, we're still good friends – DP Kindiki
By Lucy Mumbi |
He went on to explain that there is no constitutional requirement for clearance to ascend to the position of Deputy President, adding that his appointment process involved multiple arms of government.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has refuted claims suggesting his involvement in the ouster of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
In a media interview on Thursday, Kindiki responded to questions about his role in the controversial process, calling it "completely unfounded."
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"I have no regrets for occupying this space because I have no reason to regret," Kindiki said.
"It is true that I aspired to be deputy president in 2022, through a process conducted by my party, but I was not successful. My brother, Rigathi Gachagua, was successful, and I congratulated him."
Kindiki explained that following Gachagua's success, he committed to supporting the presidential campaign until the eighth or ninth of August 2022, after which he decided to take a break from both elective and appointed positions.
"The office of deputy president is a momentary position. After me, there will be others," he added.
In response to questions about whether he was elected by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), Kindiki stated, "I didn't need clearance from IEBC to become deputy president."
He went on to explain that there is no constitutional requirement for clearance to ascend to the position of Deputy President, adding that his appointment process involved multiple arms of government.
"There is no requirement to ascend to the office of DP under Article 145, read together with Article 150 of the Constitution," he added.
For Gachagua's removal, the DP said the process involved three arms of government to the extent that constitutional institutions were involved and are still involved.
"The process involved three arms of government – the executive, the judiciary, and the legislature. To that extent, I see no problem with the process. If there is an issue, there are ways to address it."
He added that there was no official handover process since Gachagua was still being involved in legal matters.
"A deputy president who is in court cannot be expected to hand over in the traditional manner,” he said.
On the matter of Gachagua's right to a fair hearing, Kindiki said any issues can be resolved through the appropriate legal channels, noting that constitutional institutions are involved and the process is ongoing.
"If there is a problem, it can be remedied through the appropriate channels. Constitutional institutions are involved, and the process is still ongoing," he said.
Regarding his relationship with the impeached deputy president, Kindiki affirmed that they remain good friends and that he has no complaints about the past, present, or future.
"We are good people. We are good friends. I have no reason to complain about the past, present, or future," he said.
Kindiki reaffirmed his loyalty to the people and nation, stating that his allegiance is to Kenya’s national interest. He also highlighted that when the president seeks his counsel, he provides it faithfully, although not always publicly.
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