Kenyan politics, with its shifting loyalties and relentless ambition, often resembles a game of musical
chairs, where the music stops at the most unexpected times. This week, President William Ruto gave the
country plenty to talk about by nominating Professor Kithure Kindiki to replace the now-ousted Deputy
President, Rigathi Gachagua. If Kindiki’s political trajectory tells us anything, it’s that he’s no stranger to
playing musical chairs himself—except this time, he hopes to be the one left standing.
With Gachagua impeached and Kenya in a state of political suspense, the nation is left wondering: Is
Kindiki the safe pair of hands needed to steady the ship, or will he too be swept away by the tide of
power struggles?
A Scholar in the House of Power
In many ways, Kithure Kindiki is not your typical Kenyan politician. Born in Irunduni village, Tharaka Nithi
County, his ascent to power has been anything but conventional. Raised in modest beginnings, he began
his education at Irunduni Primary School, later earning a place at Lenana School. From there, he went on
to the University of Nairobi, where he obtained a law degree, and then pursued a Master’s and PhD from
the University of Pretoria. It’s the kind of academic resume that reads more like the biography of a
university dean than a Deputy President.
But for all his academic achievements, Kindiki always had one foot in the door of politics. He returned to
Kenya’s top universities, teaching law and shaping the minds of future leaders. Yet, the buzz of legal
debates in lecture halls wasn’t enough to satisfy the growing politician within. Public service, it seems,
was the siren song he could no longer resist.
The Quiet Rise of a Political Player
Kindiki’s first foray into public service came in 2008 when the late President Mwai Kibaki appointed him
Secretary for the National Cohesion and Reconciliation Commission. This was a critical role at a pivotal
time in Kenya’s history, following the post-election violence of 2007. But within just three months,
Kindiki resigned. His reason? A lack of political will to resettle those displaced by the violence. It was a
principled exit, the kind of move that garners both respect and skepticism in equal measure.
But Kindiki wasn’t about to fade into obscurity. His legal acumen caught the attention of then-Deputy
President William Ruto, who enlisted him in his legal defense team during his trial at the International
Criminal Court (ICC). Kindiki’s defense of Ruto during the ICC trial placed him squarely in the national
spotlight. He handled himself with the calm precision of a seasoned lawyer, and the country took notice.
By 2013, the once quiet academic had transformed into a political heavyweight. He ran for Senate under
the banner of The National Alliance (TNA) and won his Tharaka Nithi seat on his first try. His ascent was
fast and furious, serving two terms and rising to the position of Deputy Speaker. But Kenyan politics, ever
turbulent, has a way of testing even the most formidable leaders. Tensions within the ruling Jubilee Party
culminated in Kindiki’s own impeachment from the Senate—a move that would have ended most
political careers. Not his.
The Gachagua Fallout: The Prince who never Became King
Before Kindiki can officially sit in the coveted Deputy President seat, Kenya must first grapple with the
abrupt fall of Rigathi Gachagua, a man who had barely warmed the office before facing the chopping
block. Gachagua’s impeachment after just over a year in office was both swift and severe, with the
Senate voting to uphold five of the eleven charges against him, the most significant being a gross
violation of the Constitution. As Gachagua exits the stage, Kenya is left pondering what exactly it takes to
stay afloat in the often unforgiving political landscape. His removal was a sharp reminder that the halls of
power are often less stable than they appear.
Gachagua’s impeachment trial was not without drama, spanning two days of grueling cross-examinations
and evidence presentations. The outcome, though not entirely surprising, has once again highlighted the
fragility of political power in Kenya, where loyalty and performance often take a back seat to shifting
alliances.
Kindiki: The new picture that is being framed.
With Gachagua out of the picture, all eyes are now on Kindiki. The President’s nomination has been sent
to the National Assembly, where members must vote on it within 60 days. If approved, Kindiki will
officially be appointed by Ruto, potentially breathing new life into the office of Deputy President. But
while Kindiki’s appointment may seem like a natural progression, his path to power has been anything
but straightforward. Can the man who once navigated the complexities of academia and the legal field
survive the ruthless currents of national politics?
To say that Kindiki’s nomination is a high-stakes gamble would be an understatement. His resume
sparkles with academic brilliance and a career defined by law and order, yet it’s precisely this adherence
to principle that may cause friction in a political climate often shaped by compromise and deal-making.
In other words, Kindiki’s worst enemy may not be his political opponents, but the very integrity that
brought him this far.
A Second Chance at Redemption
For Kindiki, this nomination represents a second chance. His last high-profile political role as Senate
Deputy Speaker ended in unceremonious impeachment, but this time the stakes are even higher. If he
succeeds, he will be second in command of a nation that is both hopeful and wary, grappling with
economic instability, social challenges, and the never-ending political soap opera that defines Kenya’s
leadership.
The professor-turned-politician must now prove that his blend of intellect and public service is exactly
what the country needs. His supporters see him as a man of quiet dignity, capable of navigating the high
seas of Kenyan politics with the precision of a seasoned captain. His detractors, however, wonder if his
scholarly demeanor might be too detached for the rough-and-tumble world of statecraft.
The Kindiki Factor
Kindiki’s track record shows a man who isn’t afraid to take principled stands, even when it costs him
politically. His resignation in 2008, his defense of Ruto at the ICC, and his impeachment from the Senate
all tell a story of a man who doesn’t just play politics—he plays by his own rules. Yet, it’s precisely this
independence that could make or break him in his new role, should Parliament approve his nomination.
With his law degree in one hand and political ambition in the other, Kindiki is now poised to take his
place in history—whether as the steady hand Kenya needs or as another feather lost to the winds of
power.
The Weight of Expectation: Calm Amid the Storm?
Ultimately, Kenya stands at a crossroads. As the nation watches Parliament deliberate Kindiki’s
nomination, one thing is certain: This is more than just a personnel change. Kindiki represents the
possibility of stability, of intellect over instinct, of calm amidst the storm. But in a political environment
as volatile as Kenya’s, even the most well-intentioned leaders can find themselves caught in a maelstrom
of competing interests.
Will Kithure Kindiki be the one to calm the waters, or will he, like many before him, be swept away by the
waves? As the music plays on in the corridors of power, only time will reveal who’s left standing when it
stops