Kindiki asks successor at Interior to solve rising abductions

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki while addressing the press at his Harambee House Annex office in Nairobi on 7th November 2024. [Collins Oduor, Standard]

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has urged his successor at the Interior Ministry to work on solving the rising murder cases.

He made the sentiments on Thursday evening, at Harambee Annex, where he gave his official exit address from the Interior Ministry as he took over the office of the Deputy President.

In his address, Kindiki asked his supposed successor to look into and reduce the rising cases of mysterious disappearances, abductions and femicide across the country.

"I pray that my successor will build on the gains we made and succeed to roll back the emerging reports of mysterious disappearances, abductions and femicide," Kindiki said.

The new DP has also said insecurity in parts of Lamu, North-Eastern and Rift Valley has been contained and passport processing backlog reduced during his two-year tenure as Interior CS.

He said that passport production and delivery waiting period has been reduced from more than 12 months in 2022 to seven days at present.

"The backlog of 724,000 passports has been cleared and the challenge now is to expedite the delivery process to clear the 85,000 uncollected passports that are ready. As I leave the reins of the Ministry, I am proud to report that the corruption cartels of staff and members of the public that used to harass passport applicants have been dismantled and 17 ringleaders, including immigration officers are facing ongoing criminal prosecution," Kindiki told the media.

Into the future, Kindiki has expressed optimism that the waiting period will reduce further from the current 7 days to 3 days by the close of this year remains feasible.

In his first speech of assumption of DP office. Kindiki has vowed to assist President Ruto implement Bottom-Up Economic Agenda (BETA), and work with other members of the Cabinet.