A closer look at President Ruto’s partial cabinet nominees
President William Ruto on Friday 19th July, named a partial new cabinet as he starts a process to form a “broad-based” government. After a month of widespread and sometimes deadly protests against his administration, the Head of State unveiled the names of 11 proposed cabinet secretaries in a televised address. This came after sacking almost his entire cabinet the previous week, as he seeks to contain the worst crisis of his nearly two-year presidency.
“While the events of the past month have caused tremendous anxiety, concern and uncertainty, the crisis has presented us with a great opportunity, as a nation, to craft a broad-based, and inclusive citizen coalition for national transformation and progress, made up of Kenyans from all walks of life,” Ruto said.
“Consequently, I have started the process of forming a new broad-based cabinet to assist in driving the urgently needed and irreversible transformation of our country.” The President added.
The survivors
Among the 11, four have been nominated to serve the same positions they held in his first Cabinet, two have been reshuffled, and five are new nominees.
Nominees from the immediate past Cabinet are Prof Kithure Kindiki (Interior and National Administration), Mr Aden Duale (Defence), Mrs Alice Wahome (Lands, Public Works, Urban Development and Housing), Ms Soipan Tuya (Environment, Climate Change and Forestry) and Mr Davis Chirchir (Roads and Transport).
Rebecca Miano has been nominated for the position of Attorney General. She previously served as Trade CS in Ruto’s previous Cabinet and, if appointed, Mrs. Miano will be replacing Justin Bedan Muturi.
The debutants
The new faces nominated to Cabinet are Dr. Debra Mulongo Barasa (Health), Mr. Julius Migosi Ogamba (Education), Dr. Andrew Mwihia Karanja (Agriculture and Livestock Development), Mr. Eric Muriithi Muuga (Water, Sanitation and Irrigation) and Ms. Margaret Nyambura Ndung’u (Information, Communication and Digital Economy).
Fixing the puzzle
President Ruto pointed out the issues that have come to the fore in the ongoing national conservation. He cited the need for accelerated programmes to increase food production, and thus reduce the cost of living, and expand existing job-creation programmes and create new intervention to address unemployment that affects millions of young people.
The President also highlighted the necessity for a public conversation on innovative, prudent, transparent and accountable use of public resources, along with people-friendly ways of mobilising domestic resource and reducing public expenditure.
He also cited the imperative of addressing the challenge of public debt and the need to establish mechanisms that reduce public borrowing and insulate the country from risks associated with debt accumulation and financial management.
“I’m continuing to take consultations across political divide on the balance of the remaining cabinet. Further consultations are ongoing after which I will announce more names in due course,” said Ruto.
“Additionally, I will be issuing clear assignments for the new cabinet next week.” he concluded.
