Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has promised his loyalty even as he assumes the office previously held by Rigathi Gachagua.
In his assumption of office address on Thursday, November 7, 2024, Kindiki hailed the constitutional and democratic process in Kenya, terming the transition from Gachagua to him as seamless.
“I have had occasion in the past few days to ponder on how the orderly transfer of authority as called for in our Constitution takes place seamlessly in our Country. I realise that my ascent to the office of Deputy President has taken place on the back of a hotly contested constitutional process. For weeks, the Country was glued to Parliamentary and Judicial events, whose completion was testament to our Country’s democratic credentials and the integrity of our Constitutional institutions,” Kindiki stated
“I am humbled to be of service to this Country as its Deputy President and to formally take the reins to support and assist President William Ruto and the team he leads towards the realization of his vision to deliver the transformation of Kenya. It is an honour to serve my Country as such a time as this when Kenya is moving forward and rising upwards to the height that our forefathers envisaged when they fought for the establishment of our Republic.”
Kindiki takes the reigns as the second in command after having previously served as a law lecturer, legal practitioner, senator, Majority Leader of the Senate, Deputy Speaker of the Senate and most recently as the Cabinet Secretary for Interior.
“As I assume the functions of the esteemed office of the Deputy President of Kenya, I pledge to support and assist President Ruto to canvass, defend and accelerate the implementation of the Bottom-Up Economic Agenda (BETA) on which his administration was elected two years ago. I will work with my colleagues in the Cabinet as I have done in my previous role during the past two years as we look forward to opening a new chapter in our collective effort to deliver the economic transformation and empowerment of the people of Kenya to realise better standards of living,” he added.
Kindiki says that growing up in a competitive environment he learnt to manage scarce resources in a large family of nine siblings raised by peasant parents, which has helped him ace the maze of life.
“I grew up in a competitive environment, learnt to manage scarce resources in a large family of nine siblings raised by peasant parents and introduced to the values of respect for others and authority, the love for God and Country and considering other people’s needs before mine. These values would later be firmed through my education journey in the schools and universities I would attend later in life,” he added.
“That it has been possible for me to come this far confirms that in this Country, there is no reason anymore why a child born in Moyale, Loitoktok, Nyahururu, Lodwar, Nyansiongo, Malindi, Ugenya, Kathonzweni, Elwak, Kimilili, Lunga Lunga, Maralal or anywhere else within this great Country cannot aspire to rise to any office. I am truly blessed to be a son of Kenya.”
Kindiki was sworn in as the third deputy president of Kenya under the 2010 Constitution on November 1, 2024.