How Kenya Reacted to Ruto’s 51 PS Picks

President William Ruto on Wednesday, November 2 nominated 51 principal secretaries to different state departments (Scroll on for full list). The list of nominees will be forwarded to the National Assembly for Approval.

Several nominees took to social media to thank the President for nominating them to roles central to the implementation of his campaign promises. Kenyans, however, had mixed sentiments on the list – which mostly featured allies and loyalists of the President, including losers in the 2022 polls.

While Kenya Kwanza supporters generally welcomed the nominations, many Kenyans raised various concerns. The biggest, by far, was on regional balance. More than half of the nominees come from the same communities as the President and his deputy Rigathi Gachagua.

This sparked various reactions from leaders of the Azimio coalition as well as a section of Kenyans online. Ruto loyalists, countered the argument by stating that the nominees were representative of 42 out of 47 counties in the country – thereby answering the inclusion question.

Unashamedly Ruto and Gachagua appoint 13PS each from their ethnic communities and ignore the 2/3 gender balance. In other words, ignore the Constitution pic.twitter.com/oBV78IZt5t

— Gabriel Dolan (@GabrielDolan1) November 3, 2022

Otiende Amollo and Ledama Ole Kina were among those who took on Ruto and Kenya Kwanza over regional balance. In what seemed to be coordinated messaging, Kenya Kwanza strategist Dennis Itumbi and Senate Majority leader Aaron Cheruiyot urged Kenyans to view representation through the lens of counties as opposed to communities.

It’s unfortunate that we are wired to think tribe.
The proper representation of Kenya Post 2010 constitution is counties. That’s even the language of our Katiba.
In the PS appointments, 42 out of 47 counties are represented.

— Aaron Cheruiyot (@Aaroncheruiyot) November 2, 2022

 Ruto also faced criticism on gender balance. Already having fallen short of his cabinet promise to appoint 50% of his Cabinet as women, Ruto’s PS nominations also failed to meet the two-thirds gender threshold.

Ruto failed to observe the two-thirds gender rule in appointment of Cabinet Secretaries, he’s also way off the mark with PSs, with only 12 of the 51 PS posts being women. The Bible says we shouldn’t question the will of God. And that’s the word of the Lord.

— Gabriel Oguda (@gabrieloguda) November 3, 2022

 It remains to be seen whether the President is capable of ensuring implementation of the two-thirds gender rule as he promised during campaigns. The President also caught some flak on the lack of representation for minority groups, such as persons with disabilities.

See the full list of PS nominees below:

1. Julius Korir – State Department for Cabinet Affairs

2. Teresia Mbaika Malokwe – State Department for Devolution

3. Esther Ngero – State Department for Performance and Delivery Management

4. Aurelia Rono – State Department for Parliamentary Affairs

5. Raymond Omollo – State Department for Interior and National Administration

6. Caroline Nyawira Murage – State Department for Correctional Services

7. Amb. Julius Bitok – State Department for Citizen Services

8. Dr. Chris Kiptoo – The National Treasury

9. James Muhati – State Department for Economic Planning

10. Patrick Mariro – Defence

11. Korir Sing’oei – State Department for Foreign Affairs

12. Roseline Njogu – State Department for Diaspora Affiars

13. Amos Gathecha – State Department for Public Service

14. Veronica Mueni Nduva – State Department for Gender and Affirmative Action

15. Joseph Mungai Mbugua – State Department for Roads

16. Mohamed Dhagar – State Department for Transport

17. Nixon Korir – State Department for Lands and Physical Planning

18. Charles Hinga – State Department for Housing and Urban Development

19. Joel Arumonyang – State Department for Public Works

20. Prof. Edward Kisiangani – State Department for Broadcasting and Telecommunications

21. Eng. John Kipchumba Tanui – ICT and Digital Economy

22. Eng. Peter Tum – State Department for Medical Services

23. Dr. Joseph Mburu – State Department for Health Standards and Professional Management

24. Dr. Belio Kipsang – State Department for Basic Education

25. Esther Thaara Muhoria – State Department for TVET

26. Beatrice Inyangala – State Departments for Higher Education and Research

27. Phillip Kello Harsama – State Department for Crop Development

28. Harry Kimutai – State Department for Livestock Development

29. Alfred K’Ombundo – State Department for Trade

30. Abubakar Hassan – State Department for Investment Promotion

31. Juma Mukhwana – State Department for Industry

32. Patrick Kiburi Kilemi – State Department for Cooperatives

33. Susan Mangeni – State Department for MSMEs Development

34. Ismail Madey – State Department for Youth Affairs

35. Jonathan Mueke – State Department for Sports and The Arts

36. Festus Ngeno – State Department for Environment

37. Ephantus Kimotho – State Department for Forestry

38. John Ololtuaa – State Department for Tourism

39. Sylvia Naseya Muhoro – State Department for Wildlife

40. Ummy Mohammed Bashir – State Department for Culture and Heritage

41. Dr. Paul Ronoh – State Department for Water and Sanitation

42. Gitonga Mugambi – State Department for Irrigation

43. Alex Wachira – State Department for Energy

44. Mohamed Liban – State Department for Petroleum

45. Geoffrey Kaituko – State Department for Labour and Skills Development

46. Joseph Mugosi Mutavi – State Department for Social Protection and Senior Citizen Affairs

47. Abdi Dubart – State Department for East African Community Development

48. Idris Dogota – State Department for The ASALs and Regional Development

49. Elijah Mwangi – State Department for Mining

50. Betsy Muthoni Njagi – State Department for Blue Economy and Fisheries

51. Shadrack Mwadime – State Department for Shipping and Maritime Affairs

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