Kenya's new deputy president sworn in after challenge from predecessor

1/11/2024 18:01

        Kenya's new deputy president Kithure Kindiki was sworn in on Friday after a court lifted orders barring his inauguration following weeks of legal challenges by his predecessor, who was impeached by parliament last month.
        
        The Senate voted to remove Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua from office in October on a handful of charges including gross violation of the constitution and stirring ethnic hatred - accusations that he rejects and has dismissed as politically motivated.
        
        Kenya's High Court had put a hold on Kindiki's inauguration after Gachagua and his supporters filed over 30 court challenges to prevent his dismissal and replacement.
        
        But the stay order was lifted on Thursday, with judges saying that the deputy president position should not remain vacant according to the constitution.
        
        Gachagua's legal battles extended months of political turbulence in the country, East Africa's largest economy, that began with nationwide protests against unpopular tax hikes in June.