Mercy Wanjau: Richest woman in Ruto's Cabinet

Nominee for the position of Secretary to the Cabinet Mercy Wanjau is the richest woman in President William Ruto's proposed Cabinet.

Wanjau, the former Acting Director-General of the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA), said on Saturday, October 22 that her net worth was Sh475.4 million.

She placed the value of her land and buildings at Sh380.4 million, shares stocks and deposits at Sh89 million, commercial tree farming at Sh6 million and motor vehicles at Sh3 million.

Out of the 24 Cabinet nominees, Wanjau's net worth places her at Position 13, with the first 12 slots occupied by male nominees, led by Prime Cabinet Secretary nominee Musalia Mudavadi at Sh4 billion.

Rebecca Miano of the East African Community said her net worth was Sh397 million, making her the second-richest woman in President Ruto's Cabinet line-up, and Number 16 in the overall ranking.

Miano, the former Chief Executive Officer of KenGen, said her wealth is in the form of houses in Nyahururu and Nairobi counties and matrimonial property acquired jointly with her husband.

Tourism CS nominee Peninah Malonza is the third-richest woman in Ruto's proposed Cabinet at Sh300 million. She is Number 17 in the overall ranking.

Malonza, the Deputy Governor of Kitui County between 2013 and 2017, 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.

However, the Committee on Appointments rejected Peninah Malonza's nomination as Tourism Cabinet Secretary, citing that she did not demonstrate knowledge of topical, administrative and technical issues touching on the Ministry of Tourism.

"She lacked the requisite abilities and professional experience to be approved for appointment to the Office of the Cabinet Secretary," read the report tabled in Parliament on Tuesday, October 25.

Malonza's suitability will however be decided by the entire House, who might overrule the committee and approve her appointment.

The fourth-richest woman in Ruto's Cabinet line-up is Kandara Member of Parliament Alice Wahome, who has placed her net worth at Sh218 million. She is Number 18 in the overall ranking.

Wahome, who is destined for the Water docket, said she raised her wealth from legal practice, rental income and company shares.

The fifth-richest woman in the proposed Cabinet is Florence Bore, who is destined for Labour ministry. She placed her net worth at Sh200 million. In the overall ranking, she is Number 19.

The former Kericho Woman Representative said she has a home and a tea farm in Kericho County valued at Sh60 million. Her Nairobi home, she said, is worth Sh25 million.

Her parcels of land in Kajiado and Kericho counties and vehicles and shares in SACCOs brought her total net worth to the said-Sh200 million.

The six-richest woman in President Ruto's Cabinet line-up is Nominated Senator Soipan Tuya, who placed her net worth at Sh156 million. Tuya is Number 20 in the overall ranking.

The Environment CS nominee said her wealth largely comprises immovable assets, including three homes in Nairobi and Narok.

The seventh-richest woman in the Cabinet list is Susan Nakhumicha of Health ministry, with a net worth of Sh101 million. She is Number 22 in the overall ranking.

Nakhumicha said her wealth comprises a town house and rental apartments in Syokimau, land in Kangundo, Bungoma, Trans Nzoia and Kakamega, and shares and deposits in SACCOs and dividends from the Co-operative Bank of Kenya.

The eighth and final richest woman in President Ruto's Cabinet line-up is Aisha Jumwa of the Public Service and Gender docket. In the overall ranking, she is Number 23.

The former Malindi Member of Parliament places her net worth at Sh100 million, acquired largely through investment property and parliamentarian pension.

Cumulatively, the women in President Ruto's Cabinet line-up have a net worth of Sh1.95 billion, representing 12.79 per cent of the 24 members.

In a report tabled by Minority leader Junet Mohammed, Aisha Jumwa (and Mithika Linturi - Agriculture CS nominee), were approved by the Majority and rejected by the Minority.

"A minority of the Members of the Committee recorded a dissenting/minority opinion in regard to the integrity of Aisha Jumwa and Mithika Linturi," read the report tabled in Parliament on Tuesday, October 25.

Jumwa and Linturi's nomination will also go through the House voting process to confirm or reject the committee's report on their vetting. The entire House votes to approve or reject the Report by the Committee on Appointments.

The men, who are 16 in number, on the other hand, are worth a combined Sh13.3 billion, which is 87.21 per cent of the wealth distribution.

Below are the respective nominees' net worth as revealed to MPs:

Musalia Mudavadi (Prime Cabinet Secretary) - Sh4 billion Mithika Linturi (Agriculture) - Sh1.2 billion Simon Chelugui (Cooperatives and MSME's) - Sh993 million Prof. Njuguna Ndungu (Treasury) - Sh950 million Aden Duale (Defence) - Sh851 million Moses Kuria (Trade) - Sh750 million Justin Muturi (Attorney-General) - Sh700 million Eliud Owalo (ICT) - Sh650 million Ezekiel Machogu (Education) - Sh590 million Kipchumba Murkomen (Transport) - Sh550 million Prof. Kithure Kindiki (Interior) - Sh544 million Davis Chirchir (Energy) - Sh482 million Mercy Wanjau (Secretary to cabinet) - Sh475.4 million Ababu Namwamba (Sports) - Sh425 million Dr. Alfred Mutua (Foreign Affairs) - Sh420 million Rebecca Miano (EAC) - Sh397 million Peninah Malonza (Tourism) - Sh300 million Alice Wahome (Water) - Sh218 Florence Bore (Labour) - Sh200 million Soipan Tuya (Environment) - Sh156 million Salim Mvurya (Mining) - Sh120 million Susan Nakhumicha (Health) - Sh101 million Aisha Jumwa (Gender) - Sh100 million Zachariah Njeru (Lands) - Sh80 million