Since independence in 1963, the Office of the Vice President—now the Office of the Deputy President—has been Kenya’s most delicate seat of power. Created to symbolise national balance, it has instead become the frontline of political mistrust, sudden dismissals, unexpected alliances, and dramatic successions.

To follow the history of Kenya’s vice presidents is to follow the story of presidential power itself: who holds it, who waits for it, and who survives long enough to claim it.
This is that history.

1. Jaramogi Oginga Odinga (1964–1966)

Jaramogi Oginga Odinga became Kenya’s first vice president in 1964 when the newly formed republic consolidated its government after independence. A radical thinker with strong socialist leanings, Jaramogi believed the struggle had been for economic justice, not just political flags and anthems.

He clashed early with President Jomo Kenyatta over the direction of the young state. Jaramogi pushed for African socialism and closer ties with China and the USSR, while Kenyatta aligned firmly with Western partners and an emerging local elite. The rift widened into an ideological canyon.

In 1966, Jaramogi resigned, accusing the government of betraying the ideals of liberation. He went on to form the Kenya People’s Union (KPU), becoming the first major opposition leader in post-independence Kenya. His resignation marked a lasting truth: the vice presidency could break as easily as it was formed.

(Interlink: Jaramogi Oginga Odinga – The Rebel Vice President)

2. Joseph Murumbi (1966–1967): The Honest Diplomat

Joseph Murumbi, one of Kenya’s most respected diplomats, became vice president after Jaramogi’s departure. A soft-spoken, principled nationalist, Murumbi’s discomfort grew as the Kenyatta government clamped down on dissent and corruption crept through the system.

He resigned after only one year—citing moral unease with the direction the country was taking. Murumbi later became Kenya’s foremost cultural preservationist, and today his legacy is defined more by art and literature than by politics.

(Read: Pio Gama Pinto)

3. Daniel Toroitich arap Moi (1967–1978): The Quiet Heir Who Outlived the System

Daniel arap Moi’s appointment in 1967 was a strategic gamble. Seen as non-threatening and politically neutral, Moi satisfied regional balancing without upsetting the power elite surrounding Kenyatta.

But when Kenyatta died in August 1978, Moi smoothly inherited the presidency as mandated by the constitution. His rise redefined the vice presidency: it became the clearest path to the top job, but also the most politically dangerous.

Moi’s ascendancy taught future presidents that choosing a vice president was not a formality—it was a succession plan.

4. Mwai Kibaki (1978–1988): The Loyal Technocrat

President Moi appointed economist Mwai Kibaki as vice president immediately after taking office. Kibaki was brilliant, efficient, and politically cautious—a combination that helped him survive one of Kenya’s most authoritarian periods.

The attempted 1982 coup reshaped the Moi state. After surviving it, Moi tightened control and later shuffled Kibaki out of the vice presidency in 1988. Still, Kibaki’s decade in the office remains one of the longest and most stable in Kenyan history.

(Interlink: Mwai Kibaki – A Comprehensive Profile)

5. Josephat Karanja (1988–1989): Scholar Under Siege

Dr. Josephat Karanja, a former diplomat and intellectual, became vice president in 1988. His polished style and international connections made him popular abroad—but suspicious at home.

Political rivals accused him of disloyalty and plotting to usurp the presidency. Shortly after facing a controversial vote of no confidence in Parliament, he resigned in 1989. His fall from office was swift and brutal, reminding Kenya that the vice presidency could be a trap as much as a privilege.

6. George Saitoti (1989–2002): The Survivor

Professor George Saitoti is the longest-serving vice president in the country’s history. Appointed during Moi’s authoritarian era, he survived purges, party wars, and constitutional shifts.

His tenure spanned the return of multipartyism in 1991, opposition unity attempts, and the complicated politics of Moi’s final term. Saitoti’s ability to stay useful without appearing threatening became a masterclass in political survival.

His famous line—“There come a time when the nation is more important than an individual”—during the 2002 succession crisis defined the transition that eventually ended Moi’s 24-year rule.

( The Birth and Evolution of Kenya’s Multiparty Democracy)

7. Michael Wamalwa Kijana (2002–2003): The Gentleman of Kenyan Politics

Michael Wamalwa, a charismatic Western Kenya politician and legal scholar, became vice president when Mwai Kibaki won the 2002 elections.

His charm, humour, and eloquence gave the position a renewed public appeal. Sadly, his tenure lasted barely a year. Wamalwa died in office in 2003, triggering a painful reshuffle in the newly formed NARC coalition.

8. Moody Awori (2003–2008): The Calm Stabiliser

Moody Awori, affectionately known as “Uncle Moody,” took over after Wamalwa’s death. His five-year tenure saw constitutional battles, party breakups, and the volatile 2005 referendum.

Awori remained steady even as the Kibaki administration fractured along ethnic and political lines. He left office in 2008 after the contentious 2007 election and the formation of the Grand Coalition government.

9. Kalonzo Musyoka (2008–2013): The Coalition Balancer

During the post-election crisis of 2007–2008, Kalonzo Musyoka became vice president under President Mwai Kibaki as part of a fragile political balance.

His role revolved around mediation, diplomacy, and navigating one of Kenya’s tensest periods. His tenure ended with the inauguration of the 2010 Constitution, which transformed the office into the Deputy Presidency.

10. William Ruto (2013–2022): The First Deputy President

Under the 2010 Constitution, the position changed from presidential appointment to an elected running mate. William Ruto became the first Deputy President under President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Their early alliance—cemented by shared ICC indictments—later deteriorated into open rivalry. Yet Ruto leveraged the deputy role as a national campaign platform, eventually winning the 2022 election and becoming Kenya’s fifth president.

11. Rigathi Gachagua (2022–2024): The Impeached Deputy

Rigathi Gachagua served as Deputy President under William Ruto from 2022 until his impeachment in 2024 following a high-profile constitutional and political clash with Parliament.

His removal from office marked the first impeachment of a deputy president in Kenyan history and exposed the ongoing fragility of the top leadership structure, even under the 2010 Constitution.

12. Prof. Kithure Kindiki (2024–Present): The Current Deputy President

After Rigathi Gachagua’s impeachment, President William Ruto appointed Prof. Kithure Kindiki as Deputy President, following parliamentary approval.

Kindiki, a seasoned constitutional lawyer and former Interior Cabinet Secretary, brings legal expertise and a quieter political style to the office. His tenure so far has focused on stabilising the executive, managing security reforms, and rebuilding trust after a turbulent transition at the top.

13. The Evolution of the Office: From Symbol to Power Base

The history of Kenya’s vice presidents reveals several truths:

The office has always been shaped by the politics of succession.
Its occupants often reflect the anxieties of the presidents who appoint them.
The 2010 Constitution strengthened the office, but it did not eliminate political friction.
The journey from vice president to president remains possible—but perilous.

In Kenya, the vice presidency is not just a job. It is a national mirror—reflecting hopes, fears, rivalries, and the constant negotiation of power.

Kenyan Vice Presidents from Independence