The confusion around the current holder of the Office of the Deputy President following the impeachment of Rigathi Gachagua and the subsequent nomination and approval of Prof. Kithure Kindiki as his replacement has escalated.
Deputy-President designate Kithure Kindiki on Wednesday, October 23, failed to appear before the Senate to answer questions on behalf of the Ministry of Interior.
Prior to his nomination as Gachagua’s replacement by President William Ruto, Kindiki held the role of Cabinet Secretary in charge of the Ministry.
The DP-elect however was supposed to appear for the session scheduled during his tenure as a CS, at a time the confusion over which office he holds continues following a court order that stopped him from assuming office as the DP.
Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale while reacting to Kindiki’s no-show before the House defended him and called for review of the any scheduling involving the DP-elect.
Khalwale opined that Kindiki cannot be summoned to the Senate to respond to issues affecting the Ministry of Interior and asked the Secretariat to refrain from sending invitation letters to the latter.
“At the level of Parliament, the Deputy President of Kenya is Prof Kithure Kindiki. I want to appeal to the secretariat to stop being superfluous by sending him invitation letters to come and respond to issues of the Interior Ministry,” said Khalwale.
Wandayi skips Senate session
On his part, Energy CS Opiyo Wandayi also skipped Wednesday’s Senate questioning session citing prior commitments.
“We were supposed to have two Cabinet Secretaries this morning, the Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration, and the Cabinet Secretary for Energy and Petroleum who were supposed to appear this morning to answer to questions from members,” said the Speaker.
He added, “We have since received communication. Indeed, yesterday we received a message from the Interior CS that excused him stating that he is not in a position to honor the invitation, and all inconveniences are highly regretted. And the second letter from the CS Energy and Petroleum is equally indicating regrettably we wish to request your indulgence to postpone the meeting scheduled for Wednesday October 23, 2024, at 9:30 am.”
The letter explained that CS Wandayi will be out on official duty from 22nd to 24th of October, further requesting that the session be scheduled to a later date.
The last time Kindiki appeared before a Parliamentary Commitee was in September when he appeared before the National Assembly’s Security and Administration Committee.
Also Read: Is Kithure Kindiki Being Sworn in at Uhuru Gardens?
Back then, he addressed questions over the youth-led protests witnessed in the months of June and July where he alleged that the protests were part of an attempt to overthrow President Ruto’s government through unconstitutional means.
The CS claimed that the demonstrators targeted key constitutional institutions, including Parliament, the Judiciary, and even State House.
“There was an attempt to attack and set fire to other protected areas such as the Supreme Court. The office of the Chief Justice was also targeted, which means the entire Judiciary was under threat,” Kindiki told the MPs.
Kindiki appears before MPs and succession politics
Also Read: Kimani Ichung’wah Clarifies Succeeding Kindiki as CS Interior
In defending the actions of the police during the demonstrations, CS Kindiki informed the committee, led by Gabriel Tongoyo, that law enforcement officers had to resort to lethal force to prevent a coup.
“If the police had not used lethal force during the invasion of Parliament, we would not have the Kenya we know today,” he stated.
The nomination and subsequent appointment of Prof. Kindiki as the next DP has opened a new race for who will succeed him as the Interior CS.
National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah has been rumored to be eyeing the position.
However, Ichung’wah while speaking on Monday, October 21 dismissed the reports, stating that he already has a job as the representative of Kikuyu Constituency residents in the National Assembly.
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