Kenya’s former Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki has been sworn-in as the country’s thirteenth Deputy President since independence, reports indicate.
The ceremony held at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre comes following Thursday’s ruling by a three-judge bench that cleared the way for his swearing-in.
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On October 18, after the Senate upheld Rigathi Gachagua's impeachment, President William Ruto nominated the then Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki as the next Deputy President following the impeachment of Gachagua, 59, on October 17.
In his maiden address as the second in command, Kindiki said that he is grateful for the opportunity to serve under the stewardship of Ruto.
He said: "I promise you before this congregation and God that I will not let you down.
"I am grateful to Almighty God who orders the step of everyman. I am grateful to you sir for the honour you have given me to serve under you. I've been your political student for nearly 20 years now, and nothing in the political space has helped me to pick up lessons more than the years that I have walked and served around You in various capacities."
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Kindiki was appointed Interior Cabinet Secretary in 2022.
He is, among others, reported to be the only Cabinet Secretary who has maintained the docket he was appointed to even after the Cabinet was dissolved and reconstituted this year.
Kindiki was Ruto’s lawyer as the latter faced charges at the International Criminal Court nearly 10 years ago.
Born on July 16, 1972, in Irunduni village, Tharaka Constituency – one of three constituencies in Tharaka-Nithi County, the father of three holds a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) degree from Moi University, a Postgraduate Diploma in Law from the Kenya School of Law, a Master of Laws (LL.M) degree, and a Doctorate (Ph.D.) in International Law from the University of Pretoria in South Africa.
Before he joined politics, Kindiki who began his career as an Assistant Lecturer in Law at Moi University immediately upon graduating with an undergraduate degree in law taught and held various administrative positions at Moi University School of Law and the University of Nairobi School of Law.
He joined the University of Nairobi as a Lecturer after graduating with a PhD in International Law and quickly rose to the Head of Department of Public Law at the age of 33.
He was named Associate Dean at the age of 35 and promoted to the post of Associate Professor of Law at Kenyatta University.
Kindiki who is also an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya, with 21 years of experience representing clients in national and international courts, is a member of the Academic Council on the United Nations System (ACUNS), the International Association for the Study on Forced Migration (IASFM), the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), the East African Law Society (EALS), and the Law Society of Kenya (LSK).
Before his appointment to Cabinet, he served as the Senator for Tharaka Nithi County, one of the 47 counties of the country which was created from Kenya's Eastern Province, from 2013 to 2022.
Between 2013 and 2017, he doubled up as Senate Majority Leader and from 2017, he doubled up as Senate Deputy Speaker. As reported, in his role as Senate Majority Leader, he spearheaded the legislative agenda of the Majority Party in the Senate and served as the leader of the Majority Party.