MPs Approve Nomination Of Kindiki As New DP

Prof. Kithure Kindiki Approved as New Deputy President

The National Assembly has approved Prof. Kithure Kindiki as the new Deputy President of Kenya.

The decision was made after 236 members of parliament cast their votes in favor of the motion, with no votes against it. The lawmakers had to vote twice due to a minor technical issue during the initial round of electronic voting.

This action followed an announcement by Speaker Moses Wetangula, who informed the lawmakers about the Head of State’s nomination of the former Tharaka Nithi Senator.

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Before the voting commenced, a group of lawmakers, led by Navakholo MP Emmanuel Wangwe, asked Speaker Wetangula for clarification on the process for handling the nomination of Kindiki as the new Deputy President. They sought to understand if the National Assembly would need to conduct a vetting and approval process as outlined in the Public Appointments and Parliamentary Approval Act.

Wangwe pointed out that Article 124 of the Constitution mandates parliamentary approval for any appointment, which must be reviewed by a relevant committee whose recommendations are then submitted to the house for approval.

“Honourable Speaker, your communication has not provided guidance on how this process will be handled. Kindly guide us on the steps you intend to take,” Wangwe requested.

However, the lawmakers were informed that the National Assembly would not follow the same procedure used on October 8 during the impeachment of the former deputy president, which included public participation before approval.

In response to the concerns raised, Speaker Wetangula referred to Article 149 of the Constitution, which states that when a vacancy occurs in the office of the deputy president, the president must nominate a candidate within fourteen days.

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“According to Article 149, it is evident that the National Assembly is required to vote on the nomination within 60 days. It’s important to note that the Constitution’s drafters deliberately chose language in this article that specifies a vote, rather than an approval, on the nomination,” Speaker Wetangula clarified.