NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) – Hours after an impeachment motion tabled in parliament over allegations of corruption and ethnic division against Ligati Gachagua was overwhelmingly rejected by the vice president, Kenya’s president on Friday announced that the country’s internal affairs The minister was appointed as the new vice president.
President William Ruto on Friday nominated Kisre Kindiki to parliament following the impeachment of Gachagua, who is hospitalized.
Kindiki was the leading candidate for vice president in the 2022 election campaign. Like Gachagua, he is also from the central region, which has a large number of votes.
Gachagua remains hospitalized with what his lawyer described as “severe chest pain” caused by stress. He is expected to fight his impeachment in court.
Speaker of Parliament Moses Wetangula said: “We have received a message from His Excellency the President regarding the nomination of Professor Kitule Kindiki to fill the vacancy in the position of Vice President.”
Congress is expected to vote to approve Kindiki’s nomination.
Supporters of the former vice president have criticized the impeachment process as being rushed after senators voted against giving Gachagua more days to recover and appear before the Senate. There is.
His impeachment highlighted divisions within the ruling party and friction between Ruto and Gachagua over government policy. The former vice president had been charged with insubordination after opposing the government’s policy of forced evictions during heavy rains that caused flooding and deaths.
In his defense in Congress last week, Gachagua said he believed the impeachment motion had the president’s consent and called on lawmakers to make the decision “without intimidation or coercion.” Ruto has not publicly commented on the impeachment.
Ruto, who came to office claiming to represent Kenya’s poorest people, has faced widespread criticism over his efforts to raise taxes to repay foreign creditors. However, due to public opposition, he reshuffled his cabinet and withdrew from certain proposals.
