Professor Kithure Kindiki was the first person to appear before Members of the Parliamentary Appointments Committee on Tuesday, which is vetting those who were appointed by President William Ruto for Cabinet positions.
Kithure faced some tough questions from Robert Mbui who wanted to know if he had recovered from the ‘shock’ after failing to be named as Ruto’s running mate during campaigns yet he had “fought so hard” for the position.
“It is not true that I fought so hard to be a running mate. What is true is that I was fortunate to be on the shortlist of 6 members of my party who were being considered to be running mates for President William Ruto. In that shortlist, I ended up being runner up. Rigathi Gachagua who is now the DP of Kenya was nominated as the running mate.
“There was no shock because, in the first instance, there was no entitlement to anything. It was a privilege to be on that shortlist and a greater privilege to be a runner-up,” Kithure responded to Mbui.
Another question that was posed to him was about the conference he did two days later after Gachagua beat him in the running mate race whereby he said that he was not going for any elective seat nor was he available for an appointive position. Mbui wanted to know whether his position changed on that.
“I did a press conference two days later and I said two things, namely; that I would take a break from elective politics which I did and two that I would not be available for any appointive office during my break. That last bit I have since reviewed that position after persuasion by my party. If the honorable member cared to listen to that speech I said, however notwithstanding personal decision, if my party wishes to extend engage me and requires me to reconsider my position I was willing to listen,” Kithure said.
The former Tharaka Nithi senator was also questioned if he was willing to work under Gachagu who was his main competitor.
“I have no problem submitting to authority. My friend Rigathi Gachagua is now my boss and I have no problem working with him, under him, together with president William Ruto.
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