President William Ruto on Friday nominated Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki as Deputy President nominee.
This follows the impeachment of former DP Rigathi Gachagua at the Senate Assembly.
Born in 1972, the soft-spoken father of three is described as a public servant and Professor of Law with a stellar track record and extensive experience in public administration, governance, public policy, lawmaking, legal advisory and constitutional affairs at municipal and international levels.
Kindiki holds a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) degree from Moi University, a Postgraduate Diploma in Law from the Kenya School of Law, a Master of Laws (LL.M) degree, and a Doctorate (Ph.D.) in International Law from the University of Pretoria in South Africa.
Before joining politics, he taught law and held various administrative positions at Moi University School of Law and the University of Nairobi School of Law.
He began his career as an Assistant Lecturer in Law at Moi University immediately upon graduating with an undergraduate degree in law.
He then joined the University of Nairobi as a Lecturer after graduating with a PhD in International Law where he quickly rose to the Head of Department of Public Law at the young age of 33.
He would later on be named Associate Dean at the age of 35.
Kindiki was then promoted to the post of Associate Professor of Law at Kenyatta University.
He has authored 35 publications including books, book chapters and articles in local and international peer-reviewed journals.
He is also an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya.
Kindiki is
a member of the Academic Council on the United Nations System (ACUNS), the
International Association for the Study on Forced Migration (IASFM), the
International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), the East African Law Society (EALS),
and the Law Society of Kenya (LSK).
Before his appointment to Cabinet, Kindiki served as the Senator for Tharaka Nithi County, from 2013 to 2022.
Between 2013 and 2017, he doubled up as Senate Majority Leader and from 2017, he doubled up as Senate Deputy Speaker.
In his role as Senate Majority Leader, he spearheaded the legislative agenda of the Majority Party in the Senate and served as the leader of the Majority Party.
As Senate Deputy Speaker, Kindiki deputized the Senate Speaker in presiding over sittings and debates in the House of Senate and enforcing rules of procedure and parliamentary processes.
He also conducted oversight roles governance of counties and participated in lawmaking on matters affecting counties.
In the two years he has been Interior and National Administration CS, Kindiki has led and overseen the achievement of various milestones and reforms in the ministry, including the Police Equipment Modernization, finalization of a strategic framework to commence implementation of Police Reforms, and abolishment of the previous vetting processes for issuance of National Identity cards.
Kindiki has also overseen the recognition of minority groups and stateless communities by ensuring they receive Kenyan citizenship, operationalization the Public Benefit Organizations Act, enhancing the fight against banditry and general insecurity around the country, as well as developing a legislative proposal to amend the National Government Coordination Act of 2013 to officially recognize village elders in each unit.
He has also spearheaded the enrolment of 13,120 inmates into formal education programs, among others.