Former Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto has supported the proposal by some leaders that the deputy president should be appointed by the president after elections.

Ruto, who is a Judicial Service Commissioner explained that there was a need to review the law to adopt the previous system where the president appointed their deputy, instead of having both positions on the ballot paper during elections.

According to the former Bomet governor, the move will help eliminate the tendency of deputies engaging in unnecessary campaigning in an attempt to succeed their bosses.

“Let us elect the president only, after that, it will be their decision to pick a deputy of their choice,” Ruto said.

“We are tired with these unending politics after every other general election, where when one is given a position he starts putting the country in a campaign mood for a whole five years,” he added.

Speaking during an event in Bomet on Saturday September 28, 2024, Isaac Ruto urged elected leaders to focus on their work and avoid engaging in succession politics.

Meanwhile, before the promulgation of the current Kenyan Constitution in 2010, the deputy president then referred to as vice president was usually appointed by the president.

Article 148 of the constitution states that each presidential candidate in an election must nominate a person who is qualified for nomination for election as President, as a candidate for deputy president.

“For the purposes of clause (1), there shall be no separate nomination process for the deputy president and Article 137 (1) (d) shall not apply to a candidate for deputy president,” it states.

His remarks emerges at a time when members of parliament are pushing for the impeachment of DP Rigathi Gachagua.

For instance, over 120 MPs have signed for Gachagua impeachment, citing gross misconduct and violation of Kenya’s constitution.

However, the constitution provides grounds in which a deputy president can be removed from office.