NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) – Kenya’s president on Friday appointed the country’s interior minister, hours after Parliament’s impeachment motion for Ligachi Gachagua as vice president over allegations of corruption and inciting ethnic divisions was overwhelmingly rejected. 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, whose record at the Interior Ministry is tarnished by accusations of police brutality during deadly anti-government protests, was a front-runner for vice president in the 2022 election.
However, the country’s high court later issued an order suspending Mr Gachagua’s replacement until Thursday, when a lawsuit filed against him was heard.
Kindiki, like Gachagua, is from the vote-rich Mount Kenya region.
Kindiki’s nomination was approved in a 236-0 vote. The Speaker of the National Assembly issued a Gazette notification regarding the vote for the new Vice President. Kindiki is currently awaiting swearing-in.
Gachagua remains hospitalized with what his lawyer described as “severe chest pain” caused by stress. 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.
Gachagua’s impeachment highlighted the divisions within the ruling party and the 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.
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