A Kenyan high court approved the appointment of a new deputy president on Thursday, October 31, despite a pending court action contesting the previous deputy president's impeachment.
The Nairobi High Court's three judges overturned another court's judgment to halt nominee Kithure Kindiki's swearing-in, stating that the ban established a political vacuum.
Rigathi Gachagua, previous Deputy President, had been impeached and expelled from office on Oct. 17 by a vote of a majority of parliamentarians on accusations of corruption, stirring ethnic tensions, and backing anti-government protests. The following day, President William Ruto picked Kindiki, his present interior minister, as the deputy.