In Kenya the Deputy President Position is historically an electric one, subject to reduce its occupant into political death sentence without notice.
It should be noted that the ‘Deputy’ position in Kenya is very different from the ‘Vice,’ in countries like Tanzania.
A Deputy President is an executive title with own mandate as per constitution. A Vice President on the other hand is a ‘ceremonial’ post whose holder relies on the mercy of a sitting president.
After the impeachment of the former Deputy President of Kenya Rigathi Gachagua, Professor Abraham Kithure Kindiki, the former Interior Cabinet Secretary now takes over the position.
But observers wonder how long Kindiki will last in the now clearly electric chair of the deputy, before also falling out with his boss, the parliament or both.
All the Presidents’ Men
History has shown that, in Kenya, the Deputy President must always be at loggerhead with the head of state, whichever the circumstances.
The current President, William Ruto during his time as Deputy President suddenly became a sworn enemy against the former Head of State, Uhuru Kenyatta who was once his close friend.
The country’s first president, the late Mzee Jomo Kenyatta also fell out with his deputy, the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga who was laid off in favour of Joseph Murumbi who also did not last long before being chucked off and got replaced with Daniel Arap Moi.
Moi suffered under Kenyatta rule, but being meek and accommodating managed to survive the authoritarian Head of State until the latter’s demise in August 1978.
During his rather long reign, Moi (1978 – 2002) started out with Mwai Kibaki as Deputy President but a few years down the line and the two somehow also fell out.
Kibaki was a ‘Vice President’ then, in the pre-new constitution Kenya, which means the Head of State could simply sack him at the drop of a hat.
Moi demoted Kibaki to the post of Minister of Health, filling his Vice Presidency slot with Josephat Karanja who also did not last long before being kicked out of the door and Moi filled the docket with George Saitoti.
Saitoti also fell out of favour with Moi and was replaced by Musalia Mudavadi.
Kenya’s third President Emilio Mwai Kibaki 2002 – 2012 also went through three Vice Presidents including Michael Kijana Wamalwa, who however died of illness, then came Moody Awori before he was also ditched for Kalonzo Musyoka following the controversial 2007 General Elections.
Kibaki’s tenure was the only one which featured the post of Prime Minister, in the person of Raila Odinga who got the post to appease him after claims that he won the 2007 polls, but the state robbed him of the victory, leading to chaos which left thousands killed.
With such historically repeating record, Kenya’s Vice Presidency may remain a political gas chamber for eternity.
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