Richest woman in Ruto's Cabinet among those vetted so far

Tourism, Wildlife & Heritage CS nominee Peninah Malonza during the vetting at County Hall, Nairobi on October 19, 2022. (Elvis Ogina, Standard)

Peninah Malonza is the richest woman among the four female Cabinet Secretary nominees vetted as of Wednesday, October 19.

With a net worth of Sh300 million, Malonza is ahead of Aisha Jumwa, Alice Wahome and Soipan Tuya in terms of their declared net worth.

The four revealed their net worth before the National Assembly's Committee on Appointments chaired by Speaker Moses Wetangula. The vetting that ends on Saturday, started last Monday.

Peninah Malonza, who is destined for Tourism ministry, attributes her wealth to property in Mombasa, Kajiado and Kitui counties (Sh240 million), Sh30 million worth of shares in SACCOs, Sh20 million in livestock and farm produce and Sh3 million in vehicles.

Malonza served as the Deputy Governor of Kitui County between 2013 and 2017 under the governorship of Julius Malombe.

Alice Wahome, who is the current Kandara MP, placed her net worth at Sh218 million. She was vetted for the position of Water Cabinet Secretary.

Aisha Jumwa, the former Malindi MP who is destined for Gender and Public Service ministry in President William Ruto's government, revealed her net worth as Sh100 million, attributing a majority of the funds to parliamentary pension.

Soipan Tuya, the Environment ministry designate and a Nominated Senator in the current Parliament, said her net worth is Sh156 million, stating that the value comes from immovable assets, shares and dairy farming.

Three other female CS nominees are yet to be vetted. They are Susan Nakhumicha (Health), Rebecca Miano (East African Community) and Florence Bore (Labour and Social Protection).

Collectively, all the 13 Cabinet nominees vetted so far have a total net worth of Sh10.02 billion.

Below is the net worth of each of the Cabinet nominees vetted so far:

Musalia Mudavadi (Prime Cabinet Secretary) - Sh4 billion

Justin Muturi (Attorney-General) - Sh700 million

Aden Duale - (Defence ministry) - Sh851 million

Dr. Alfred Mutua (Foreign Affairs ministry) - Sh420 million

Alice Wahome (Water ministry) - Sh218 million

Prof. Kithure Kindiki (Interior ministry) - Sh544 million

Prof. Njuguna Ndung'u (Treasury ministry) - Sh950 million

Aisha Jumwa (Public Service and Gender ministry) Sh100 million

Davis Chirchir - Energy and Petroleum - Ksh 482 million

Moses Kuria (Trade ministry) - Sh750 million

Kipchumba Murkomen (Transport ministry) - Sh550 million

Roselinda Soipan Tuya (Environment ministry) - Sh156 million

Peninah Malonza (Tourism ministry) - Sh300 million.