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
