The High Court in Kenya on Friday, October 18, issued temporary orders stopping the replacement of Rigathi Gachagua as Deputy President until October 24 when the matter will be mentioned before a bench to be appointed by Chief Justice Martha Koome, media reports noted. ALSO READ: Who is Kithure Kindiki, Ruto’s Deputy President nominee? The order, as reported, was issued by Justice Chacha Mwita, moments after all 236 lawmakers in parliament voted ‘Yes’ for President William Ruto’s nominee Kithure Kindiki, 52, as the next Deputy President, to replace Gachagua. His appointment was subsequently approved by the Senate Assembly. Justice Chacha Mwita said there will be no appointments to replace Gachagua until October 24, and certified the application filed by Gachagua’s Advocate Senior Counsel Paul Muite as urgent and remitted the file to Justice Koome. After the Senate upheld Gachagua's impeachment late Thursday night, Ruto nominated Interior Cabinet Secretary Kindiki as the next Deputy President. Gachagua, 59, was on Thursday, October 17, impeached despite being admitted to a hospital in the capital, Nairobi. ALSO READ: Ruto nominates Kindiki as next DP, Gachagua challenges impeachment decision in court In a last-minute effort to regain his office, Gachagua moved to court to stop President Ruto from nominating a person to fill the vacancy of the office of Deputy President. Koome will now appoint a bench that will hear and determine the constitutional issues Gachagua has raised. In the meantime, a conservatory order is issued suspending Senate resolution to uphold the impeachment charges against the Deputy President, the Judge said. The file will now be transmitted to the Chief Justice for appropriate action, it is reported.
