Ruto selects an ally, but hours later, a Kenyan court prohibits the nomination of a deputy president

Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki was appointed as Kenya’s new deputy by President William Ruto on Friday, but his appointment was halted by a court until next week, when it would consider a complaint contesting Kindiki’s predecessor’s impeachment.

Following parliament’ approval of Kindiki’s nomination on Friday, the high court stepped in. It prolongs a period of political unrest in the East African nation that began in June with large-scale demonstrations against unpopular tax increases.

It was the first time a Kenyan deputy president had been removed from office through impeachment when the Senate voted on Thursday to sustain the accusations against Ruto’s former deputy, Rigathi Gachagua.

The high court in the capital city of Nairobi issued an order suspending Kindiki’s appointment as deputy president and the Senate’s decision supporting Gachagua’s impeachment allegations until October 24, when a panel of judges chosen by the chief justice will discuss the matter.

Five out of eleven counts, including flagrant constitutional violations and inciting ethnic hatred, led to Gachagua’s impeachment; he disputed the claims and described them as politically motivated.

Kindiki was named interior minister soon after the president assumed office in September 2022 and was a leading candidate to be Ruto’s running mate in that race.

Police supervision falls under the purview of the interior ministry. During the statewide demonstrations earlier this year that demanded the repeal of a now-sheltered finance law and changes to combat corruption, rights organizations have accused the police of employing excessive force.

Speaking to parliament in September, Kindiki said that the government did not carry out extrajudicial executions or kidnappings and that police followed the law.

Gachagua helped earn a sizable portion of the votes from the populated central Kenya region and supported Ruto in his 2022 election victory. However, he has mentioned being marginalized in recent months, as local media outlets have reported extensively that he and Ruto are at odds as political coalitions change.

According to a court document, Gachagua, who was hospitalized and not present when the Senate voted to fire him, filed a plea on Friday to prevent Ruto from appointing his replacement until after a hearing.

The 59-year-old politician has challenged the impeachment process in a number of cases, either as a party or as a filer.