Deputy President nominee Kithure Kindiki welcomed President William Ruto to the Kwale County Commissioner’s office ahead of the 60th Mashujaa Day celebrations.

Photos shared by Citizen Digital show Kindiki greeting President Ruto as he disembarked from a Kenya Airforce helicopter, accompanied by First Lady Rachel Ruto on Sunday morning. Kindiki was joined by Trade Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya, Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Olollo, and Kwale Governor Fatuma Achani.

President Ruto is set to preside over the celebrations at the Kwale County stadium later in the day.


Kindiki was nominated to replace Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua after Gachagua was impeached by the Senate on October 17, 2024. Senators approved five out of the 11 charges that led to his removal.

Gachagua, who has been hospitalized at Karen Hospital in Nairobi since his impeachment on Thursday, remains under observation. Although doctors initially expected a 48 to 72-hour stay, a court order has temporarily halted the Senate’s impeachment decision, delaying Kindiki’s assumption of the DP office.

Despite the political developments, Gachagua took to X (formerly Twitter) to mark Mashujaa Day, writing, "Happy Mashujaa Day dear Kenyans. God Bless our Nation."