ODM national election board chairperson Judith Pareno and commissioner Peter Odoyo. [George Njunge]
At least seven youths landed plum State jobs yesterday when President Uhuru Kenyatta reshuffled his Cabinet.
Some of the nominees to the position Chief Administrative Secretaries (CAS) are aged below 30 years.
“I would want Kenyans to note that seven of these appointments to the positions of Chief Administrative Secretaries are young people, some below the age of 30 years,” said Uhuru.
He said the CASs would work with and understudy their more experienced colleagues in government in readiness to assume senior leadership positions in the near future.
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Some of the youthful nominees are Nadia Ahmed Abdalla (CAS for ICT, Innovation and Youth Affairs). Abdalla, who hails from Mombasa County, participated in Ms President, a reality TV show which premiered on Kenya Television Network.
Zacharia Kinuthia Mugure will serve as Education CAS, while Anne Mukami Nyaga was nominated as CAS for Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperatives.
Other youths on the list include Mercy Mukui Mwangangi (CAS Health), Maureen Magoma Mbaka (CAS ICT, Innovation and Youth Affairs), Abdul Bahari (CAS Devolution and the ASALs).
Raila allies
At the same time, allies of Opposition chief Raila Odinga and Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka have landed plum State jobs in nominations largely influenced by the March 9 political truce.
Former Nyakach MP Peter Odoyo, a close ally of Raila, was nominated by President Uhuru Kenyatta to serve as Defence CAS. Wiper’s 2017 Machakos County gubernatorial candidate Wavinya Ndeti will serve as Transport CAS.
Uhuru has been incorporating individuals allied to Raila and other Opposition leaders in his administration following the March 2018 handshake.
Previously, most of the appointments were awarded to individuals from Jubilee strongholds or to those who backed Uhuru’s election.
Also nominated by Uhuru yesterday are Julius Jwan, who will serve as Principal Secretary for Vocational and Technical Training after vetting by Parliament. Until his nomination, Dr Ouma was the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development director. He been in the rollout of the Competency-Based Curriculum.
