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The twists and turns revolving around the impeachment of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, the subsequent nomination and approval of his replacement and the slamming of brakes on the move by the high court have ignited debate online.
Gachagua was impeached Thursday night by the Senate and by Friday morning, President William Ruto nominated Interior CS Kithure Kindiki as his replacement.
The National Assembly almost immediately approved the nomination, sparking off speculation that Kindiki could be sworn in on Saturday.
This was even after the court suspended the Senate’s decision to uphold the National Assembly’s October 8 impeachment of Gachagua and stopped Ruto from appointing his replacement.
The speculation that Kindiki’s swearing-in could happen on Saturday despite the court order have been further fueled by a cryptic tweet from Ruto’s senior adviser on economic affairs, Moses Kuria.
“Kesho ni ile siku,” the tweet read. Kuria accompanied it with several photos that appeared to show preparations in top gear at the Uhuru Gardens, the presumed venue for the purported oath-taking ceremony.
A number of Kenyans reacted to Kuria’s tweet with some wondering whether the laying of the stage at the Uhuru Gardens, coupled with Kuria’s cryptic post, lend credence to the swearing-in speculation.
“Kwani ni kesho? (Is it happening tomorrow?),” one asked.
“Hii nayo mmechangamkia sana. Kwani Gachagua alikuwa amewakazia sana?” (You are so excited about it. Was Gachagua an obstacle?” added another.
“It's all systems go; swearing in will proceed.” came another comment.
While issuing orders suspending the Senate’s decision to impeach Gachagua, Justice Chacha Mwita warned parties against disobeying the order.
He said he had transmitted the file to Chief Justice Martha Koome to constitute a bench to hear the weighty constitutional issues Gachagua had raised over the ouster process in an application filed by Senior Counsel Paul Muite.
“Take notice that any disobedience or non-observance of the order of the court served herewith will result in penal consequences to you and any other person(s) disobeying and not observing the same,” the judge said.
The appointment of Gachagua’s replacement would require the Chief Justice to preside over the swearing-in exercise.
CJ Koome would thus find herself in a tight fix should the speculation about the Saturday swearing-in have an iota of truth.
But even then, some Kenyans said the venue was being prepared for a musical event to be headlined by Prince Indah.
“Yes, hapo kesho ni Malaika festival,” an X user said.