Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has officially taken over the deputy party leadership of the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
Following a decision by the party’s National Executive Council (NEC) on Monday, November 11, 2024, Kindiki has succeeded the impeached former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
The resolution came after UDA Secretary-General Omar Hassan indicated that the party provides that the deputy president becomes the deputy party leader.
“I want to assure you of my unwavering commitment to the ideals that our party stands for. I will work with all the organs established under our party constitution for the good and better performance of our party,” Kindiki said.
He emphasised that he was taking the leadership of the party at a time when the country was embroiled in a political crisis, noting that he would do everything possible to ensure the UDA party boosts its membership.
The UDA NEC noted that following Gachagua’s impeachment, the party’s constitution requires that he relinquish his role as the party’s deputy leader.
“That by virtue of the resolution of the National Assembly and the vote of the Senate and by operation of Articles 75 (3) and145 (7) of the Constitution of Kenya as read together with Article 8.2.19 of the UDA Party Constitution, Rigathi Gachagua is unable to perform the duties of the office of Deputy Party Leader and subsequently ceases to hold office as Deputy Party leader,” the NEC resolution read in part.
In a move which further isolates the disgraced former deputy president, the UDA party has expunged Gachagua’s name from the party leadership following weeks of prolonged court cases challenging his impeachment.
On October 29, 2024, Hassan said Gachagua’s utterances in public which formed the basis of his impeachment by the two houses of Parliament were the reason for his dismissal from the party’s leadership.
“We were moving forward as a party and we had committed to uniting the Kenyans regardless of their ethnicity yet he (Gachagua) is preaching ethnicity and that is why he had to go,” Hassan said.
“We were moving forward as a party and we had committed to uniting the Kenyans regardless of their ethnicity yet he (Gachagua) is preaching ethnicity and that is why he had to go.”
