Moses Kuria, a Senior Advisor on President William Ruto’s Council of Economic Advisors, has confirmed that Kithure Kindiki will be sworn in as Deputy President on Saturday, October 19, 2024, despite a court order that seeks to halt the process.
In a video shared on X, Kuria was seen inspecting the main arena at Uhuru Gardens, where he stated the swearing-in ceremony would take place.
“Inspecting the site for tomorrow swearing in of H.E Kithure Kindiki, 3rd Deputy President under the 2010 Katiba,” he captioned the video, which was posted on his X account at 4:40 PM on Friday, October 18, 2024.
Kuria further indicated that the ceremony would be streamed live.
“Sasa hapa tuko na sherehe tunaapisha professor Abraham na itakua live,” he said in the video.
He added that the swearing-in would be followed by a gathering in the afternoon aimed at uniting various ethnic groups in Kenya.
“Ni kesho asubuhi. Afternoon tuko na country beat pale makabila yote tunaonganisha pale,” Kuria remarked.
Court order
Earlier, Kuria dismissed a court ruling that temporarily barred the appointment of a new Deputy President following the impeachment of Rigathi Gachagua.
This ruling, delivered by High Court Judge Justice Chacha Mwita on Friday, October 18, 2024, ordered a halt to Gachagua’s replacement until a hearing set for October 24, 2024.
Justice Mwita noted the urgency of the matter and issued a conservatory order staying the implementation of the Senate’s resolution that upheld Gachagua’s impeachment, including the appointment of his successor.
“Due to the issues raised in the petition and application, and the urgency demonstrated, a conservatory order is hereby issued staying implementation of the resolution by the Senate upholding the impeachment charges against the petitioner, the Deputy President of Kenya, including the appointment of his replacement,” Justice Mwita stated.
Nevertheless, Kuria argued that Justice Mwita’s orders were issued too late, as Interior Cabinet Secretary Professor Kithure Kindiki had already been confirmed as Gachagua’s successor.
“The appointment had been done. Justice Mwita’s orders as sought by the immediate former Deputy President are overtaken by events. Congratulations H.E Abraham Kithure Kindiki,” Kuria wrote on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.
As the political landscape shifts in Kenya with Kithure Kindiki’s impending swearing-in as Deputy President, the ongoing legal challenges surrounding his appointment underscore the complexities of governance and the rule of law in the country.
Despite the court’s intervention, the government seems determined to proceed with the ceremony putting it in a possible collision course with the Judiciary.
As the situation unfolds, all eyes will be on Kindiki as he steps into this pivotal role amid a backdrop of political tension and uncertainty.
