Kindiki's sudden change of fortunes as country's second-in-command

Prof Kithure Kindiki checks his watch before he was sworn in as the Deputy President on Nov 1, 2024. [PCS]

Immediately after taking the oath of office as Deputy President on Friday, Kithure Kindiki experienced the trappings of power that come with his new position as Kenya’s second-in-command.

Starting a new chapter on the new month of November, Prof Kindiki and his wife, Dr Joyce Gatiria, left the KICC with a bigger motorcade than what had brought them.

The number of security men and aides had also been scaled up.

Kindiki followed different commands as they headed to the State House for the first assignment to mark Taxpayer’s Day in the company of his boss, President William Ruto.

Going by an earlier request by the Head of State to Kindiki to assist in amplifying government projects, the DP used the event to push Kenyans to pay taxes citing that this was everyone’s duty.

 “Every Kenyan must pay taxes for the development and well-being of our nation. We will build our country from the resources generated through revenue collected from individuals and corporate entities,” he stated

Kindiki added that achieving this, it requires continuously innovating and adopting client-friendly revenue mobilisation measures and ensuring prudent management of resources collected from the taxpayers.

The event was also part of the launching of the Ninth Corporate Plan and Application Programming Interface Platform.

On the same day, Kindiki witnessed President Ruto assent to the Sugar Bill, 2022.

And his dairy is fast changing. Kindiki’s first day as the second-in-command seems to have ushered him to busy days ahead to empty a full in-tray at Harambee House Annex where he will henceforth be occupying.

Initially, he was based at Harambee House where the Ministry of Interior and National Administration is domiciled but now his new office comes with independence and power.

Some staff who worked with him before told The Sunday Standard that things are already changing.

As of Friday, the staff were already scouting for working spaces in the palatial Deputy President’s official residence in Karen.

“We visited his new office on Friday to see where we will be working from as we wait for further directives from our bosses,” one of the employees who worked with Kindiki under the Ministry of Interior said.

The DP’s residence in Karen where former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua occupied for two years will now become Kindiki’s home-cum-office away from Harambee House Annex.

On Friday, there was a beehive of activity at the residence as workers were busy mowing the lawns, a clear indication that they were readying the compound for a new occupant.

Even so, he could not confirm the number of assistants who will cross over to Annex, though he said that enough space was being created and they can feel the pressure and joy working with the second-in-command.