5 Kenyan Deputy Presidents Who Served the Shortest Time in Office
Following Parliament's impeachment of Gachagua, his fate now lies with the Senate.
Sharon Koech
The political scene in Kenya is currently unstable, particularly due to the reported fallout between President William Ruto and his deputy, Rigathi Gachagua. The recent impeachment motion passed by Parliament indicates significant underlying issues between the two leaders.
Kenya's history of deputy presidents reveals how quickly political circumstances can change. For instance, **Musalia Mudavadi** had an extremely short tenure of just 60 days under President Moi, during which he experienced no notable conflict.
**Joseph Murumbi**, the second deputy president, served only 120 days before resigning due to health problems, which cut his time in office short under Jomo Kenyatta.
**Michael 'Kijana' Wamalwa** was in office for 232 days, but his service ended tragically when he passed away from illness.
**Joseph Karanja** held the position for a little over a year but resigned following a dispute with President Moi, showcasing the often tumultuous nature of deputy leadership.
**Jaramogi Oginga Odinga**, the first deputy president, resigned after accusing Kenyatta of sidelining him in governance, a sentiment that still echoes in Kenya’s political narrative today.
Now, Gachagua faces a precarious situation; if the Senate upholds the impeachment motion, he could join the ranks of those with notably brief tenures. This development highlights the complexities of political alliances and the often fragile nature of power within Kenya’s government.
