The government has gazetted a twenty-member committee to preside over the swearing-in of Kithure Kindiki as the new deputy president, replacing impeached Rigathi Gachagua.
In a gazette notice published on Thursday, October 31, the office of the Chief of Staff Felix Koskei, appointed the Secretary to the Cabinet, Mercy Wanjau to lead the committee.
Other members appointed to the swearing-in committee include Attorney General Dorcas Oduor, the Chief Registrar of the Judiciary Winfridah Mokaya, Principal Secretaries Julius Bitok (Citizen Services), Patrick Mariru (Defence), Raymod Omollo (Interior and Coordination) and Chris Kiptoo (Treasury).
Others include Principal Secretaries Korir Sing'oei (Foreign Affairs), Edward Kiang'ani (Information and Broadcasting), Idris Dokota (Cabinet Affairs), Teresinh Mbaika (Devolution), Untmi Bashir (Culture), Chief of Defence Forces Charles Kahariri, National Intelligence Services Director Noordin Haji and Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja.
"Whereas to facilitate the assumption to office of the Deputy President-Designate, the swearing-in of the deputy president-designate shall be undertaken by the assumption of the office of deputy president committer comprising members of the assumption of the office of president committee, with the necessary modifications as utility," read part of the gazette notice.
While making the announcement, Felix Koskei stated that the committee was constituted following a High Court ruling issued on Thursday noon that lifted the interim orders that initially barred Kindiki's appointment and subsequent swearing-in.
The appointment of the committee also followed the National Assembly's approval of the appointment of Kithure Kindiki as the new Deputy President, which paved the way for his swearing-in.
On Thursday noon, the High Court in Nairobi lifted the conservatory orders issued by the Nairobi and Kerugoya courts that stopped the appointment and swearing-in of Kithure Kindiki as the deputy president.
The three-judge bench consisting of Justices Eric Ogolla, Anthony Mrima, and Fridah Mugambi noted that staying the conservatory orders would immensely hamper the operations of the government as mandated by the constitution.
According to Justice Anthony Mrima, the public interest and constitutional provision demanded that the office of the Deputy President should not remain vacant.
"We are convinced and find that the current constitutional framework does not envision any scenario in which the office of the DP would remain vacant except during the brief period required to fill a vacancy," noted Justice Mrima.
"The applications for conservatory orders are hereby disallowed. The conservatory orders on October 18, 2024, in Kerugoya High Court are hereby discharged and set aside," Justice Ogolla pronounced.
