The more things change, the more they remain same

ODM Chairman John Mbadi speaks at Parliament Buildings, Nairobi, March 27, 2024. [Elvis Ogina, Standard]

The new Cabinet line-up has seen incorporation of both fresh entrants and old faces, with just a few of former ministers failing to make the cut.

President William Ruto said he consulted a broad spectrum of stakeholders from all sectors, levels and regions to constitute a broad-based government and has since forwarded names for vetting prior to appointment.

He described the stakeholders’ willingness to set aside partisan positions and interests in order to join a visionary partnership for the radical transformation of Kenya, as a historic gesture of patriotism.

“I commend the leadership of diverse organisations, both in the public and private sectors, including political parties, for their encouraging response to my outreach to consult on forming a broad-based government,” said the President, who spoke from State House yesterday.

So far, the president has nominated 22 Cabinet Secretaries after dissolving his first cabinet two weeks ago following pressure from the Gen Zs out of which, 10 of them are new entrants.

This is part of the negotiated slots as the president seeks to form a Government of national unity with Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader, Raila Odinga.

New appointments

Yesterday, the president made new appointments and some of the biggest gainers included ODM Chairman John Mbadi, who has been nominated to National Treasury, Leader of Minority in the National Assembly, Opiyo Wandayi (Energy and Petroleum) and former Mombasa Governor Hassan Ali Joho (Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs).

Other new entrants are former Kakamega Governor, Wycliff Oparanya (Co-operatives and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and Gender, Culture, Arts and Heritage CS nominee Stella Soi Lang’at while the immediate former Attorney General, Justin Muturi has now been posted to Public Service and Human Capital Development docket.

The 10 CSs are in addition to 11 others the President announced last Friday. Other new entrants up for vetting are Dr Debra Mlongo Barasa (Health), Julius Ogambo (Education), Dr Andrew Mwihia Karanja (Agriculture and Livestock Development), Eric Muriithi Mugaa (Water, Sanitation and Irrigation) and Margaret Nyambura Ndung’u (Information, Communication and the Digital Economy).

Those who survived the purge are Prof Kithure Kindiki (Interior and National Administration), Alice Wahome (Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development), Aden Duale (Environment, Climate Change and Forestry), Soipan Tuya (Defence), Davis Chirchir (Roads and Transport) and Salim Mvurya (Investments, Trade and Industry). Also back to the grind are Rebecca Miano (Tourism and Wildlife), Kipchumba Murkomen (Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports while Alfred Mutua will serve in the Labour and Social Protection docket if approved by the National Assembly.

The biggest losers so far are former CSs Ezekiel Machogu (Education), Moses Kuria (Public Service), Mithika Linturi (Agriculture), Susan Nakhumicha (Health), Peninah Malonza (EAC, Arid and Semi-Arid Lands and Regional Development) and Aisha Jumwa (Gender).

Ruto said that once constituted, the new Cabinet will steward the Government’s transformation agenda in providing effective and efficient public services, expanding opportunities for employment and wealth creation as well as creating a tide that lifts every boat.

“Our collective ambition is to turbocharge the performance of our economy to achieve our universal health coverage, which ensures that no one is left behind or impoverished on account of healthcare costs, offers an equitably funded education system which looks out for learners from vulnerable backgrounds and ensures that  Kenyans from all walks of life live in safe and dignified housing,  through our affordable housing programme,” said the President.

Similarly, he said the transformation agenda calls for the need to provide reliable clean water, last mile electricity connectivity and to secure more business opportunities for enterprises and employment opportunities for the youth, both locally and abroad.

In the past few weeks, he said the country has witnessed direct and robust exercise of rights and freedoms, with Gen Zs calling on their government to pay attention to urgent national issues and to prioritize necessary changes and reforms to actualize their demands.  

Ruto said Kenyans can firmly and unanimously affirm that Kenya is a free, open and democratic country based on constitutionalism and the rule of law. “Our fundamental rights and freedoms are guaranteed by the Constitution and cannot be taken away. They include the freedom of conscience and expression, the right to assemble, to demonstrate, picket and present petitions,” he stated.