Kindiki or Raila? Kenyans share views on who to replace Gachagua

By Peter Ochieng

Kenyans are sharply divided on the best possible leader to replace Deputy President (DP) Rigathi Gachagua, should the Senate uphold his impeachment next week.

The second in command will have a total of 5 hours before the Senate on Wednesday and Thursday next week, to defend himself against 11 charges levelled by Kibwezi West MP Eckomas Mwengi Mutuse, in an impeachment motion passed by the National Assembly this week.

Kenyans are seemingly preparing for life with Gachagua as Deputy President, with results of an opinion poll conducted by Infotrak showing that 20 percent of Kenyans want Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Professor Abraham Kithure Kindiki to replace him, should the impeachment go through.

For starters, before President William Ruto (then DP) settled on Gachagua as his running mate in 2022, several Mt. Kenya politicians in his camp vouched for the nomination of Kindiki.

The research firm sampled 1,000 respondents. An identical 5% said they support Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru and Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, to take over the job if Gachagua is removed from office.

Homa Bay governor Gladys Wanga and Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro tied at 4%, while former Prime Minister Raila Odinga got 2% support. Odinga is in the race to become the next African Union Commission (AUC) chairman.

Elections will be held in February, 2025, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

“Most Kenyans listed expertise and experience as the reasons why they chose their candidates, with Kindiki leading in this area,” said Johvine Wanyingo, Research Manager at Infotrak.

In addition, 60% of the respondents said that they neither knew nor had an idea of who should take over from Gachagua, despite having an interest in the matter.

The research further shows that 73% of Kenyans are not happy with the trajectory the country is on, under President William Ruto’s administration.