NAIROBI - Kenya's new deputy president Kithure Kindiki was sworn in on Friday after a court lifted orders barring his inauguration following weeks of legal challenges by his predecessor, who was impeached by parliament last month.

       The Senate voted to remove Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua from office in October on a handful of charges including gross violation of the constitution and stirring ethnic hatred - accusations that he rejects and has dismissed as politically motivated.

       Kenya's High Court had put a hold on Kindiki's inauguration after Gachagua and his supporters filed over 30 court challenges to prevent his dismissal and replacement.

       But the stay order was lifted on Thursday, with judges saying that the deputy president position should not remain vacant according to the constitution.

       Gachagua's legal battles extended months of political turbulence in the country, East Africa's largest economy, that began with nationwide protests against unpopular tax hikes in June.

       President William Ruto invited opposition members into his cabinet to create what he called a unity government in July in an attempt to ease tensions after demonstrators stormed parliament.

       The political realignment also sidelined Gachagua, who had been a valuable asset for Ruto during his election campaign, helping secure a large block of votes from the populous Mount Kenya region. The two men have since fallen out.

       Kindiki was a top contender to be Ruto's running mate during the 2022 election and was appointed interior minister shortly after the president took office in September that year.

       Ruto appointed Foreign Minister Musalia Mudavadi as interior minister late on Thursday. REUTERS