Members of the National Assembly have approved Kithure Kindiki as Deputy President.
This now means President William Ruto will appoint Kindiki as his principal assistant.
He will then wait for a date for his swearing-in.
Kindiki is the current Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary.
His name was submitted to the National Assembly on Friday.
Speaker Moses Wetang’ula announced the appointment in a special Sitting convened on Friday.
“I have received a message from the president on the nomination of Professor Kithure Kindiki to fill the vacancy in the office of the Deputy President of the Republic of Kenya,” Wetang’ula said.
The Constitution says that once the president submits the nomination to the National Assembly, MPs shall vote to reject or endorse the name. There is also no requirement for a two-thirds majority.
Questions had earlier been raised by a section of MPs on whether the house could approve Kindiki’s nomination on the same day.
Speaker Moses Wetang’ula in his communication said voting will be done on Friday because it is within the constitutional timelines.
“Nomination and voting of Kithure Kindiki on the same day is within the constitutional timeline provided for in the constitution,” he said.
On subjecting the nomination of the deputy president to public participation, the Speaker said the exercise was not applicable in this particular matter.
He explained that elective positions in Parliament, including those of Speaker, Deputy Speaker, and East African Legislative Assembly members, are not subjected to public participation.
“The practice of the House in these instances is that the House has always proceeded directly to vote without public participation. To this end, as far as Article 149(1) of the Constitution is concerned, the House votes upon receiving the nomination, and the requirement for public participation does not apply.
“To the extent that Article 149(1) of the constitution contemplates the House to vote upon receiving the nomination, the requirement of public participation is not applicable in this case,” Wetang’ula added.
