DP Kindiki jets out of the country

By Peter Ochieng

Deputy President (DP) Abraham Kithure Kindiki jetted out of the country on Friday morning, in his maiden visit abroad since being sworn in a week ago.

He travelled to Botswana to represent President William Ruto, in the swearing in ceremony of the Southern Africa country's new Head of State.

"Left the Country this morning for Gaborone, Botswana, to represent President William Samoei Ruto at the swearing in and inauguration ceremony of His Excellency Duma Boko as President of the Republic of Botswana," Kindiki informed Kenyans through a post on social media.

The DP is accompanied by leaders from both sides of the political divide.

They are Senators Fatuma Dullo (Isiolo) and Eddy Oketch (Migori), and National Assembly Members; Owen Baya (Kilifi North), Vincent Musyoka (Mwala), John Njuguna Kawanjiku (Kiambaa), Victor Koech (Chepalungu), and Elisha Odhiambo (Gem).

Before assuming higher office of DP, Kindiki served as the Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Interior and National Administration for two years.

Unlike his other colleagues in cabinet, he never made a trip out of the country during that period.

He jetted out of the country shortly after President Ruto arrived from his visit to South Sudan and Ethiopia.

Kindiki in his address to the media on Thursday evenning said he leaves the interior ministry with his head held high.

Among his achievements he said, is the restoration of the country's passport production infrastructure, which he stated that had completely broken down.

"Our country's infrastructure for the production and supply of Kenyan passports had completely collapsed owing to the breakdown of printing equipment, huge supplier debts and chronic corruption cartels that took advantage of the situation to extort money from desperate applicants," he stated.

"After many months of reorganizing the financing arrangement as well as personnel deployment at the Immigration department, I am proud to report that as I leave the Ministry, the government has been able to acquire modern printers and all the pending supplier debts have been paid."

He said the passport production and delivery waiting period has been reduced from more than 12 months in 2022 to 7 days at present.