NAIROBI, Kenya—The woes of ousted Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua deepened further on Friday, November 1, after the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) announced his removal from its top leadership.
UDA Party Secretary General Hassan Omar announced earlier that the president’s party was preparing to install the deputy president designate as the party’s deputy party leader.
What Cecily Mbarire said about Rigathi Gachagua demotion in UDA party
Omar’s remarks were confirmed by UDA party Chairperson Cecily Mbarire, who revealed plans to have Kindiki replace Gachagua as the party’s top leader.
“The UDA Constitution states that the president will be the party leader while his deputy will be the party leader,” said Mbarire, who doubles as the Embu governor.
Mbarire further said that the party would meet as soon as possible to install Kindiki, the immediate former Interior Cabinet Secretary, for his new party position.
“We shall hold a National Executive Committee meeting probably as early as Monday, November 4, 2024, to bring him in as the new UDA deputy party leader,” explained Mbarire.
What Kithure Kindiki’s elevation means to Mt Kenya East region
Meanwhile, Mbarire said that the swearing-in of Kindiki as the new deputy president was totally unexpected.
“For sure, because we never saw this coming. But here we are. We are about to swear in the next and the new Deputy President of Kenya Prof Kithure Kindiki. It is obviously a great joy for me coming from Embu County, precisely Mt Kenya East region,” said Mbarire.
According to the county boss, this is the first time a top leadership figure, a second in command, has come to the Mt Kenya East region.
“But we also know that he is not just a deputy president of Mt Kenya East or the entire Mt Kenya region; he is going to be a deputy president of Kenya. All we want in this country is unity,” added the governor.
What awaits deputy president designate Kithure Kindiki
Governor Mbarire further exuded confidence in Kindiki’s leadership after he was nominated to the deputy president position.
“And I know, I have no doubt in my mind that Prof Kithure Kindiki has what it takes to support and assist the president in achieving the Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) Agenda,” said Mbarire.
For Mt Kenya East, Governor Mbarire said that Kindiki’s new elevation is a game changer for the mountainous region.
“We have always been part of the larger Mt Kenya region, but never have we held a seat, be it president or deputy president, and so this is the very first time that this is coming to us. We thank God that it is here, and we are happy that we can finally say that Mt Kenya East has what it takes to produce a national leader. It is from Mt Kenya East to Kenya,” explained Mbarire.
