Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has left the country for Maputo to attend the inauguration of Mozambique’s President-elect Daniel Francisco Chapo.
In a statement shared on his Facebook page on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, Kindiki revealed that he also held discussions with Somalia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi, whom he met at the airport.
Fiqi was at the diplomatic lounge at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport en route from Cairo, Egypt, to Somalia when he crossed paths with Kindiki.
Kindiki is set to spend a few days in Mozambique, representing President William Ruto, who is currently in Abu Dhabi.
“Departure for Maputo, to represent Kenya at the inauguration of President-elect Daniel Francisco Chapo, Republic of Mozambique. At the airport, held discussions with Somalia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi who was on transit from Cairo, Egypt to Somalia,” Kindiki shared.
Ruto arrived in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on the evening of Monday, January 13, 2025, to attend the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week Summit.
He was received by UAE Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Shakhboot Nahyan Al Nahyan and Kenyan Ambassador to the UAE Kenneth Milimo Nganga.
A video shared by State House Kenya on Tuesday, January 14, showed Ruto disembarking from a plane, greeted by a line of presidential guards, before being welcomed by the minister and ushered into a lobby.
Kindiki joins dignitaries
His deputy, Kindiki, will join an elite list of presidents and dignitaries invited to the grand occasion, including South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Ramaphosa has already arrived in Mozambique, according to a statement on the country’s official website dated January 15, 2025.
Mozambique torn by political unrest
While the president-elect is set to be sworn in amid pomp and jubilation, Mozambique is teetering on the brink of anarchy following days of protests against the election results.
A major protest, termed a national strike, has been announced. However, it remains unclear whether it will happen on the inauguration day or later.
But according to a local television station, Chapo’s biggest rival in the election, opposition leader Venâncio Mondlane, has called on Mozambicans to take to the streets again on the day of the inauguration.
Daniel Chapo, aged 48, secured 65% of the votes in a poll that opposition leaders, electoral observers, and much of the public allege was rigged.
The disputed outcome is what has ignited demonstrations across the country—some peaceful, others violent—resulting in chaos, including deaths and destruction of property.
Mozambique’s two main opposition parties, Renamo and MDM, have also announced that they will boycott today’s swearing-in ceremony, refusing to recognize Chapo as the legitimate winner.
Fighting corruption
Much like Kenya, Mozambique holds a staggering rank in corruption, with an average score of 120.30 from 1999 to 2023.
One of Chapo’s key manifesto promises was to tackle this entrenched issue, and many are now eager to see the magic wand he plans to wield to fulfill this pledge and revive the nation’s debilitated economy.
