The fate of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua as deputy party leader of ruling party, United Democratic Alliance (UDA) is now sealed, as current DP Kithure Kindiki assumes the position.

Kindiki officially took over as UDA deputy leader Monday after the National Executive Committee (NEC) met at the party headquarters and resolved to appoint him for the position.

Kindiki took over the mandate with a promise of leading the party in achieving its purpose of uniting the country and also assisting President William Ruto implement the UDA manifesto.

“With a lot of humility, I accept, other than being a party member, to now serve as deputy party leader. In that role, I expect to assist our party leader as he steers our party and the country,” he said.

In a brief ceremony presided over by party national chairperson Cecily Mbarire and secretary general, Hassan Omar, among other members, Kindiki was presented with instruments of the office, which included a notebook, party constitution, manifesto and a file.

The DP assured that the unity of Kenya is not a threat to segments that constitute the country, saying that he is taking over at a defining moment for Kenya, when it has been engaged in conversations about the nation’s identity. 

“We need to understand that the unity of Kenya is not inimical. It doesn’t work counter to the interest of the segments that constitute Kenya.  What it does, is to make the segments that constitute Kenya stronger and more viable,” Kindiki said.

He admitted to multiplicity of ideas, interests and aspirations, but also the importance of converging to pursue the broader ideas that UDA believes in and to build a strong and united country.

“We need to unify our people, create nationhood and create the viability of our republic, because without our unity, our republic will not be viable.  We will be doing small things all the time, because of our thoughts, our interests and our values are not aggregated together,” he affirmed.

He added: “I’m a firm believer of the unity, indivisibility and oneness of Kenya and we start that by pursuing these ideas within our party. Whatever views that party members have, sections of our parties, including persons with disabilities, young and older members of society, different religious, ethnic or whatever other shades that we have, let us remember all the subnational interests must always converge and meet at the table of our country as a whole.” 

He said the last few weeks have been momentous as the country went through the constitutional and judicial processes, which have led to change of guard in the office of the Deputy President.

The DP lauded UDA for acting swiftly to ensure it does not experience any leadership gaps, the same way other constitutional processes of transition in the office of the Deputy President have been concluded to ensure seamless service delivery to Kenyans and party members. 

He said that he convened the meeting following impeachment of Gachagua at the National Assembly and Senate and ceased to hold office as the deputy president and also the deputy party leader. “NEC now resolves to designate Kindiki as the deputy party leader of UDA effective immediately,” a statement signed by Mbarire and Omar indicated.

Kindiki said he has been part of the UDA journey since it was founded and his first responsibility is being the loyal party member he has been, adding that the party has given them roles he is currently is serving, first Interior Cabinet Secretary and now, DP. “

Every time I have met the leadership of the party, I always remind them that I would not be Interior minister if it was not for the party. In all democratic and multi-party democratic countries, the party is the one that forms government, therefore, the party is bigger than government,” he explained.

Having been a founder member of UDA and serving in different roles within the party, especially his role as chief agent of the President, he said he took part in drafting of constitution and setting up of various organs established in the party constitution as well as part of the team that put together the manifesto.

“I am also very aware that our party stands for the unity of our country.  As this transition takes place, I want to assure you of my unwavering loyalty to the ideals for which our party stands for,” he said.