By Prudence Minayo
Prof Kithure Abraham Kindiki is a Kenyan lawyer and the current Tharaka Nithi senator. He is allied to the Kenya Kwanza movement and was a top contender to deputize DP William Ruto in the forthcoming presidential elections. The position however went to Mathira Constituency member of parliament Rigathi Gachagua. A flustered Kindiki thanked those who had supported stating that he would not exit Kenya Kwanza even after the disappointment.
Dr. Kindiki has served as an advocate of the High Court since 2001.
Age and Education
He was born on 17 July 1972 in Tharaka Nithi county. For his secondary education, he attended Lenana High and Tharaka Nithi Boys High School
In 1998, he graduated with a Bachelor of Law degree from Moi University and went on to pursue a Master of Law in International Human Rights Law and Democracy from the University of Pretoria, South Africa.
In 2002, he graduated with a PhD in International law from University of Pretoria.
Also Read: Martha Karua Biography, Age, Family, Education & Political Career
Career
Between 1999 and 2003, he served as a lecturer of law at Moi University. He taught Public International Law, Humanitarian Law, Human Rights Law and International Dispute Resolution
In 2000, he became a Resettlement Consultant/ Legal Unit, Division of International Protection, UNHCR, Pretoria. In this position, he provided legal protection to refugees and those seeking asylum in South Africa. He gave them advice on both their national and international rights and recommended lasting solutions on a case by case basis. He left this position on March 2001
In 2004, he became a lecturer of law at the University of Nairobi and worked there until 2005
From 2006 to 2012, he served as a senior lecturer of International Law at the University of Nairobi. He was also the head at the department of Public Law .
In 2010, the current deputy president William Ruto was accused alongside six others for being perpetrators in the 2007/08 post election violence. Dr. Kindiki became their first defense counsel.
Politics
In 2012, he decided to join politics. He joined TNA upon its formation, a party that merged with Hon. Ruto’s to form Jubilee
He became the first senator of Tharaka Nithi in 2013 and also served as the majority chief leader in the senate until 2017. He successfully defended his senatorial seat in 2017 and became deputy speaker of the senate until 2020.
After Rigathi Gachagua was announced the Kenya Kwanza’s deputy president aspirant, Kindiki was conspicuously missing during the press conference. He later on stated that he would not give up on the coalition. He pledged his support for the DP and Rigathi Gachagua and promised to be subordinate to them.
He also added that after much soul searching, he had decided to take a break from active politics.
“I have decided to take a break from active politics starting August 10. I have decided not to seek any appointed position whatsoever,” he said
DP Ruto had this say about Prof. Kithure Kindiki:
“I want to thank my lawyer and friend Abraham Kithure Kindiki who became the runner up. Even though the current senator of Tharaka Nithi is not here with us now, he brought a lot of passion to this contest”
Also Read: The Car Raila Sold To Start Multi-Billion Business Empire
Family
Daniel Kindiki is the patriarch of the Kindiki family. He grew up in abject poverty and was forced to step in as the breadwinner at the young age of six. He went on to become a reverend. Both he and his wife Hannah dedicated their lives in the service of God
Kithure Kindiki comes from a family blessed with brains. An article by Nation in 2017 revealed that five members of the family are professors and four were professors in the making. The family is known for their stellar excellence in the world of academics and are popular for being the most educated in the region. They come from Irunduni village of Mukothima in Tharaka Nithi. His elder brother, Professor Isiah Kindiki was a big NASA coalition support in 2017. Isaiah is a professor of Soil Physics who has worked at two prestigious universities in South Africa: University of South Africa and University of Venda.
The family’s oldest brother, Jonah Nyaga Kindiki, was also a political aspirant. He wanted to vie for a parliamentary seat but stepped down to support his younger brother. He too is a professor, teaching International Education and Policy. He served as the Education Faculty dean at Moi University.
One of the brothers, Stephen Kithinji Kindiki, works at Daystar University as a professor of Linguistics. Another one named Moses Mpuria Kindiki is an alumni of the University of London. He worked at Maasai Mara University as a political economy professor.
Other siblings are:
- Ruth, who has worked as a community worker
- A microbiologist named Sarah who was employed at Masinde Muliro University
- A food technologist named Mary
- Margaret, pursued a PHD in Parasitology
The professor is married to Joyce Kithure. They have two children.
