Kenyan President William Ruto on Friday chose Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki as his new deputy, but a court blocked his nomination until it hears a case next week challenging the impeachment of Kindiki’s predecessor.

The High Court’s intervention came after lawmakers had already approved Kindiki’s appointment on Friday. It continues a period of political unrest in the East African country that began with mass protests against unpopular tax hikes in June.

The Senate’s vote Thursday to confirm impeachment charges against Ruto’s former deputy Rigathi Gachagua marked the first time a Kenyan vice president had been removed from office by impeachment.

In an order, the High Court in the capital Nairobi said Kindiki’s nomination as vice president and the Senate resolution upholding the impeachment charges against Gachagua were stayed until October 24, when a panel of Judges appointed by the Chief Justice will debate the matter.

Gachagua was indicted on five of the eleven charges, including flagrant violation of the constitution and inciting ethnic hatred – charges he denied and dismissed as politically motivated.

Kindiki was a leading contender to be Ruto’s running mate in the 2022 elections and was appointed home affairs minister soon after the president took office in September that year.

The Interior Ministry also supervises the police. Rights groups accused police of using excessive force during nationwide protests earlier this year that demanded the withdrawal of a now-shelved budget law and reforms to combat against corruption.

In an appearance before Parliament in September, Kindiki said police had acted within the law and that the government had not engaged in extrajudicial killings or kidnappings.

Gachagua supported Ruto in his 2022 election victory and helped secure a large bloc of votes in Kenya’s populous central region. But in recent months he has spoken of being sidelined, as many local media reported a rift with Ruto as political alliances shifted.

Gachagua, who was hospitalized and absent during the Senate vote to impeach him, filed a motion on Friday seeking to block Ruto from appointing his replacement pending a court hearing, according to a court filing.

The 59-year-old politician has filed or is a party to several lawsuits challenging the impeachment proceedings.