Hon. (Prof.) Kithure Kindiki, PhD, EGH, has been nominated to be the Deputy President of the Republic of Kenya. He has been serving as the Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration since October 2022, with a brief hiatus between July 11, 2024, and August 8, 2024, when President William Ruto dissolved his Cabinet.

As the CS for Interior and National Administration, Hon. Kindiki has led and overseen the achievement of various milestones and reforms, including the Police Equipment Modernisation programme, significantly enhancing the capabilities of Kenya’s security services, finalisation of a strategic framework to commence implementation of police reforms recommended by the Hon. Justice David Maraga’s taskforce, abolishment of the previous vetting processes for issuance of National Identity cards, recognition of minority groups and stateless communities ensuring they receive Kenyan citizenship and associated rights, operationalisation of the Public Benefit Organisations Act, enhancing the fight against banditry and general insecurity around the country, development of a legislative proposal to amend the National Government Coordination Act of 2013 to officially recognise village elders in each unit, and enrolment of 13,120 inmates into formal education programmes, among others.

Prior to his appointment to the Cabinet, Hon. Kindiki served as the elected Senator for Tharaka Nithi County from 2013 and was re-elected in 2017. As Senator, he also served as the Deputy Speaker of the Senate as well as the Majority Party Leader in the Senate. As Senate Majority Leader, he spearheaded the legislative agenda of the Majority Party in the Senate. As Senate Deputy Speaker, Hon. Kindiki deputised the Senate Speaker in presiding over sittings and debates in the House of Senate and enforcing rules of procedure and parliamentary processes. Additionally, he conducted oversight roles of governance of counties and participated in law making on matters affecting them.

As an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya, with legal experience spanning over 24 years, Hon. Kindiki has consulted for international organisations, including the World Trade Organisation (WTO), the African Union (AU), the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the United Nations (UN) and UN specialised agencies such the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and practised as Defence Counsel at the International Criminal Court (ICC) at The Hague.

Hon. Kindiki has also taught law and held various administrative positions at Moi University School of Law and the University of Nairobi School of Law. He began his career as an Assistant Lecturer in Law at Moi University immediately upon graduating with an undergraduate degree in law. He then joined the University of Nairobi as a Lecturer after graduating with a PhD in International Law, where he quickly rose to the Head of the Department of Public Law at the age of 33 and then to the position of Associate Dean two years later. Hon. Kindiki was later promoted to the post of Associate Professor of Law at Kenyatta University. He has authored 35 publications, including books, book chapters and articles in local and international peer-reviewed journals.

The professor holds a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) degree from Moi University, a Postgraduate Diploma in Law from the Kenya School of Law, a Master of Laws (LL.M) degree, and a Doctorate (PhD) in International Law from the University of Pretoria in South Africa. His professional affiliations include memberships to the Academic Council on the United Nations System (ACUNS), the International Association for the Study on Forced Migration (IASFM), the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), the East African Law Society (EALS), and the Law Society of Kenya (LSK).