President Ruto’s Cabinet Lineup: The New And Old Faces

NAIROBI, Kenya, Sept 27- After days of waiting following his inauguration, President William Ruto has named a list of Cabinet nominees, who will serve for the next 5 years under the Kenya Kwanza administration.

The list dominated by politicians was revealed to the public on Tuesday afternoon, during an address from State House in Nairobi.

From the onset, the President said he was set to issue an Executive Order outlining the roles of his Deputy Rigathi Gachagua- to avoid a repeat of what happened to him, during his last tenure as DP, under the Jubilee administration. Most of his duties were given to the Interior Cabinet Secretary after he fell out with President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Among Gachagua’s roles is to deputize the President in executing all presidential functions stipulated by the law. 

Gachagua will also chair Cabinet committees and oversee the implementation of cabinet decisions across all ministries and departments.

He also said the DP will coordinate intergovernmental relations between the national government and county governments. This will include chairing the intergovernmental budget and economic council (IBEC).

Gachagua will also be the liaison between the constitutional commissions and independent offices in matters that require government intervention including budgets, policy formation, and implementation of their recommendations.

He will also execute the role of coordination of planning and supervision of development partners funded programmes and projects. 

Gachagua has also been assigned the role of overseeing public sector reforms and other functions the President may assign him from time to time.

Amani National Congress (ANC) leader Musalia Mudavadi was nominated for the position of Prime Cabinet Secretary.

‘That office is the most senior after that of the president and DP office,” the President said.

Mudavadi will oversee the government’s National Government projects. He will coordinate the national legislative agenda.

Mudavadi will also facilitate inter-ministerial coordination of programs and supervise the evaluation of government programs across ministries.

Here is the rest of the list: Interior and National Administration – Kithure Kindiki, National Treasury-Prof. Njuguna Ndung’u, Public Service and Gender – Aisha Jumwa, Defence – Aden Duale, Water, Sanitation and Irrigation – Alice Wahome, Foreign and Diaspora Affairs -Alfred Mutua, Trade – Moses Kuria, EAC – Rebecca Miano, Transport – Onesmus Kipchumba Murkomen, Lands – Zacharia Mwangi Njeru, Tourism – Peninah Malonza, Agriculture – Mithika Linturi, Education – Ezekiel Machogu

Energy and Petroleum – Davis Chirchir, Sports – Ababu Namwamba, Cooperatives, and MSMEs – Simon Chelugui while Mining goes to Salim Mvurya.

Others are Labour – Florence Bore, Health – Susan Wafula, Communication – Eliud Owalo, Environment and forestry – Rosalinda Soipan Tuya, Attorney General – Justin Muturi, National Security Adviser – Monica Juma and Secretary to the Cabinet – Mercy Wanjau.

Harriet Chiggai was named advisor the women’s rights agency advisor.

The Attorney General nominee is former National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi.