Lobby faults Cabinet nominees list amid calls for genuine dialogue

Opiyo Wandayi (Energy), John Mbadi (Finance) and former Governor Hassan Joho (Mining) have been nominated by President William Ruto. [File, Standard]

A lobby group has criticised President William Ruto's Cabinet changes that brought on board top Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leaders. 

In a press statement signed by Fwamba N C Fwamba, Ouma Odera, Cathy Irungu, Mwenda Gatobu, Silas Otuke, and Beth Nachungura, National Alternative Leadership officials said they are dissatisfied with the changes, describing them as cosmetic. 

The lobby group wants the President to rescind the nominations to Cabinet and instead initiate genuine consultative process that reflects the people’s wishes.

"Instead of addressing the pressing issues facing our nation, the recent Cabinet reshuffle has added fuel to an already raging fire, further deepening the crisis rather than extinguishing it," the officials said in a statement.

They faulted the President for failing to demonstrate how he plans to address rampant corruption in the country. "The reshuffle includes individuals with troubling corruption records," they said.

The lobby group said the President's decision to nominate to Cabinet individuals with corruption cases was an affront to the war on graft and betrayal of the public’s trust.

The lobby group at the same time challenged Ruto to explore ways of addressing the high cost of living, youth unemployment, deteriorating health and education sectors as well as ensuring justice and compensation for victims of police brutality.

"Families of those who suffered police brutality during last year's Azimio la Umoja One Kenya protests over the high cost of living, as well as this year's victims of Gen Z protests against the Finance Bill 2024 and bad governance, continue to seek justice and compensation. Their rights to justice and reparations have been grossly overlooked," read the statement. 

President Ruto has nominated to Cabinet ODM chairman John Mbadi as the National Treasury Cabinet Secretary, National Assembly Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi (Energy), ODM deputy party leaders Ali Hassan Joho (Mining), and Wycliffe Oparanya (Co-operatives and MSMEs).