Two days after his nomination and subsequent approval by the National Assembly as Kenya’s Deputy President-elect, Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration Kithure Kindiki on Sunday, October 20, 2024, was in Kwale to receive President William Ruto for the 2024 Mashujaa Day fete.
Kindiki received President Ruto at the Kwale County Commissioner’s residence.
Photos that have since been shared by Kindiki show him receiving the Head of State as he got off a Kenya Air Force chopper in the company of First Lady Rachel Ruto.
KWALE COUNTY, KENYA
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2024Mashujaa Day 2024. pic.twitter.com/cW5fT7Soft
— Kithure Kindiki (@KindikiKithure) October 20, 2024
Kindiki was joined by other leaders, including Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo, Trade Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya, and Governor Fatuma Achani, among other leaders.
This is the first time Kwale County is hosting the event in the newly built 10,200-seater Kwale Stadium as the venue.
Kindiki arrived at the event’s venue a few minutes before President Ruto’s arrival.
Mudavadi recognises Kindiki
However, he was not invited to speak at the 61st Mashujaa Day celebrations, as Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi invited the President after he spoke behind the host governor Achani.
Mudavadi, however, recognised Kindiki as the Deputy President nominee as he greeted the guests while making his speech.
Meanwhile, Gachagua, who was ousted as the second in command, is still recuperating at Karen Hospital after he was admitted on Thursday, October 17, just as he was set to appear before the Senate as a witness in his impeachment case.
However, the Senate proceeded to impeach him, ignoring his lawyers’ plea of having the case pushed to Tuesday, October 22, 2024.
President Ruto nominated Kindiki on Friday, October 18, 2024, after the senate voted to uphold the impeachment of Rigathi Gachagua.
The National Assembly voted to approve the appointment of Kindiki.
Kindiki’s swearing-in halted
However, Kindiki’s swearing-in was halted after Gachagua obtained conservatory court orders stopping his replacement.
In a ruling on Friday, October 18, 2024, High Court judge Justice Chacha Mwita issued temporary orders barring the seat from being filled pending the hearing of the case on October 24, 2024, before a bench appointed by Chief Justice Martha Koome.
“In the meantime, 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 said.
“That due to the significance of the issues raised in the petition and application, I certify this matter as raising substantial questions of law and public interest and, therefore, fit to be heard by a bench of an uneven number of judges appointed by the Hon. Chief Justice. The file be placed before the Hon. Chief Justice immediately for consideration in that regard,” Chacha further ruled.