Fresh Cabinet faces as Nyoro picks his deputy

Kiambu Governor James Nyoro has nominated Joyce Wanjiku Ngugi as his deputy, ending days of speculation that he had already settled on an assistant.

Mrs Ngugi is the widow of former Gatundu South MP Joseph Ngugi, who died in 2014. The nominee will now be vetted by the county assembly.

Nyoro further made key changes to his 19-day-old Cabinet, saying, “The decision comes after wide consultations. The re-organisation was necessitated by the desire to hasten the implementation of service delivery to the people of Kiambu.”

Ngugi is the chair of the National Council for Children’s Services. She is currently undertaking a PhD in leadership at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology.

Moments after receiving news about her nomination yesterday, Ngugi said she was ready to work for the county’s residents.

“I am extremely happy, but shocked at the same time. I have desired to serve the people of Kiambu, and with this opportunity, I will serve under the instructions of the governor,” she said.

Husband’s death

Ngugi plunged into politics after her husband’s death when she vied for the Gatundu South Constituency seat in the ensuing by-election. She, however, lost to Moses Kuria.

During the 2017 elections, Ngugi once again threw her hat in the ring against Mr Kuria, but later pulled out of the race. The aspirant then said she had withdrawn her candidature so that she could campaign for President Uhuru Kenyatta.

In wide-ranging changes, Nyoro nominated Joseph Ng’ang’a Murega as the Health executive, while Wilson Mburu Kang’ethe was picked to run the Finance, Economic Planning, and ICT Services docket. James Maina will head Lands, Housing and Planning.

Isabel Waiyaki takes over at the Youth and Sports docket from Karungo Thang’wa, who was impeached by the county assembly last year.

Other nominees include David Kimani Kuria (Water, Environment and Natural Resources), Margaret Waithera (Administration and Public Service), Mary Kamau (Education and Social Services), Francis Kigo Njenga (Trade and Tourism) and Samuel Mugo (Roads and Transport).

Nyoro also retained Chief of Staff Martin Njogu.