Kindiki sworn in as Kenya’s new deputy president

NAIROBI, Kenya: Kithure Kindiki has been sworn in as Kenya’s new deputy president, after senators ousted Rigathi Gachagua in a dramatic series of impeachment votes a fortnight ago.

A legal attempt by Gachagua to delay the swearing-in ceremony failed on Thursday.

Kindiki, a 52-year-old former law professor, has been serving as President William Ruto’s interior minister for the last two years.

The president hopes that Kindiki’s accession will put to an end a febrile chapter in Kenya’s political history.

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Ruto has appointed Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi as the acting interior minister.

The softly spoken Kindiki was the face of the government in the aftermath of the police’s deadly crackdown on recent anti-tax protests.

In charge of the security services, he oversaw the response to the wave of protests that began in June.

More than 40 people died in clashes with the police and at least 300 others were wounded, but Kindiki lauded the officers for exercising “restraint” while enforcing law and order. He also denied any shoot-to-kill orders were issued.