A high court in Kenya has officially approved the swearing in of a new deputy president on Thursday, amid an ongoing court case challenging the impeachment of the previous deputy president, Rigathi Gachagua.
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua was impeached and removed from office by a vote of more than two-thirds of legislators on Oct. 17 on charges of corruption, inciting ethnic divisions and support for anti-government protests. President William Ruto nominated Kithure Kindiki, the current interior minister, for the deputy role the next day.
Reports indicate that the high court made this decision in the absence of Gachagua who was rushed to the hospital last week to seek medical attention for severe pain in his chest. Requests made by his lawyers for an adjournment of several days was declined by the court which proceeded with an already delivered defense from the former deputy president.
According to reports, the Senate voted on the impeachment later that day, and Gachagua’s supporters have criticized the process as rushed and unfair. Gachagua has said he believes the impeachment was backed by Ruto.
Ruto is expected to be joined by Kindiki at a period where he faces widespread criticism over his efforts to raise taxes to pay off foreign creditors. But the public opposition led him to shake up his Cabinet and back off from certain proposals.