President Uhuru Kenyatta last evening made changes in his cabinet, naming 20 cabinet secretaries and 41 principal secretaries in an announcement that saw some PSs including Patrick Omutia from Teso dropped.
Mr Omutia was Mining PS and inspite of increasing the state departments to 41 from 26 no nominee was picked from the region to replace him in the spirit of regional balance.The increase in he size of government has raised fears of more straining of the government budget, which is being financed by heavy borrowing.
It was good news to teachers when Jacob Kaimenyi was moved to Lands ministry and his position taken over by Fred Matiang’i. Also out of the Cabinet is Anne Waiguru whose docket, Devolution and Planning has been taken over by Mwangi Kiunjuri, who makes a come back from the cold after unsuccessfully contesting the gubanatorial seat in the last election.
There will be by-elections as Uhuru named Dan Kazungu, an ODM MP from Malindi as mining cabinet secretary while senator Charles Keter, deputy president William Ruto’s right hand man replaces the suspended Energy cabinet secretary Mr Chirchir.
Despite increasing the cabinet dockets from 19 to 20, Western region failed to benefit with only EugeneWamalwa and Judi Wakhungu retaining their Water and Environment portfolios respectively.
Full cabinet: Dan Kazungu (mining), Judy Wakhungu (Environment), Mwangi Kiunjuri ( Devolution and Planning), Eugene Wamalwa (Water), Henry Rotich (National Treasury), Hassan Wario (Sports), Fred Matiang’i ( Education), James Macharia (Infrastructure), Willy Bett (Agriculture), Joseph Nkaissery( Intrerior), Amina Mohammed (Foreign Affairs), Cecil Kariuki (Public Service and Youth ), Najiba Balala (Tourism), Charles Keter (Energy), Cleophas Mailu (Health), Philip Kandie (Labour), Rachel Omamo (Defence), Jacob Kaimeny (Lands), Adan Mohammed (Indiustrilization), Joe Mucheru (ICT and Innovatioon) and Githu Muigai (Attorney General).
It is also official that Charity Ngilu, Kazungu Kambi, Chirchir, Kamau and Kosgei are out since none of the suspended ministers were reappointed. Uhuru was forced to make the reshuffle after his cabinet was reduced to 13 following the resignation of Anne Waiguru. The constitution requires at least 14 CSs at any given time.
Leave a comment