NAIROBI, Kenya
Nine prominent Kenya politicians are among those tipped for possible appointment to the Cabinet as President Uhuru Kenyatta plans a major shake-up in government.
The changes, the Star has established, will see almost half
of the current Cabinet secretaries sacked. Most chief administrative and
principal secretaries could also lose their jobs in the grand house cleaning.
After overhauling the parliamentary leadership, the
President is said to be shifting his focus to the Cabinet and is reportedly
keen on tapping the most experienced hands to drive his legacy agenda.
According to a highly placed source aware of the looming
Cabinet reshuffle, the President could announce the changes any time from now.
In the expected changes, Kenya National African Union Party
chairman Gideon Moi could be appointed to the Cabinet, a move that will cause a
by-election in Baringo county which he represents in the Senate.
The move is part of an elaborate plan to elevate the scion
of former President Daniel Moi with an office with a national profile that
could be critical in his presidential ambitions.
Gideon has hinted that he will be seeking to succeed Uhuru
in 2022.
Wiper leader and former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka,
ex-Bomet Governor Isaac Rutto, former Chief of Defence Forces Samson Mwathethe
and East Africa Court of Justice judge Charles Nyachae have also been mentioned
as those who will join the Cabinet.
Other names tipped for appointment are 2013 presidential
candidate Peter Kenneth, ex-MPs Jamleck Kamau (Kigumo), Paul Otuoma (Funyula)
and Kabando wa Kabando (Mukurwe-ini).
Kalonzo is proposed to take over the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, with Rutto landing the Agriculture docket while Gideon will oversee
the lucrative Energy portfolio.
There are reports that Uhuru may hive off the immigration
and registration of persons department from the Interior and Coordination of
National Government ministry and name Mwathethe as the new docket's boss.
Sources say Kalonzo and Rutto have already accepted the
offers while the Kanu chairman was still undecided “as the move has political
implications on his 2022 presidential prospects.”
However, it's said there have been concerns as to who will
then become Kanu party leader as the Constitution does not allow a CS to engage
in politics.
Some Kanu leaders are instead pushing for businessman
and former national chairman of the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and
Industry Kiprono Kittony to be appointed instead of Moi.
“It is now not about who is joining the Cabinet and who is
not. It is now about when the President will unveil the names,” said a source
aware of the closely guarded secrets.
Unlike in 2013 where Uhuru picked mostly technocrats, it is
now understood that the President has opted for a politicians-dominated
Cabinet.
The new CSs are expected to help the President
"explain to Kenyans the projects government is implementing as Uhuru firms
up his legacy".
The impending changes have already triggered panic in the
Cabinet amidst reports that key allies of Deputy President William Ruto and
those nursing 2022 political ambitions will be dropped.
Otuoma was in December 2018 appointed to chair the
Privatisation Commission while Kabando was appointed last year as the chairman
of the Board of Local Authorities Provident Fund.
The Nyachae family that played a key role in the
re-election of Uhuru in Gusii region is fronting Charles.
If appointed, Charles who served as the chairman of the
defunct Constitutional Implementation Commission will have to resign as a
judge.
However, it is understood that negotiations are still
ongoing on who between Peter Kenneth and Jamleck Kamau will be given the
position considering that both come from Murang’a county.
Both Kanu, Chama Cha Mashinani and Wiper parties have all
agreed to work with President Kenyatta.
When contacted for a comment on Monday, Kanu secretary general
Nick Salat did not deny or confirm if Kanu was set to be a major beneficiary of
the looming changes.
Salat told the Star that his party “had capable men and
women ready to help the President in serving Kenyans”.
“Appointment of people to Cabinet is the prerogative of the
President. It is just a matter of time before we see such changes. If our
members are picked, we are not going to shy away. Where the President deems fit
for us to serve, we will. We are equally capable,” Salat said on the phone.
Jamleck who was once the Nairobi Metropolitan Minister told
the Star, “let’s wait and see”.
“It is upon the President to appoint a team of people he
thinks will help him. He is the one who decides who fits to be where and which
position but for now, I am not aware if I am in the list but let us wait,” he
said.
Isaac Rutto was unreachable for comment.
However, two weeks ago, during an interview with Emoo FM,
Rutto said his party has agreed to support the government’s development agenda,
contribute to the resuscitation of the economy post-coronavirus pandemic and
the passage of bills and motions in Parliament and county assemblies.
“The talks are between CCM and Jubilee and they are on how
to keep Kenya peaceful, how to address the economy after Covid-19, schools are
closed and moving forward for the next two years. We never discussed on who to
vote for or not to vote for in 2022,” he said.
In January this year, Uhuru reshuffled his Cabinet in the
changes that saw former Agriculture CS Mwangi Kiunjuri and former Treasury CS
Henry Rotich sacked.
Uhuru moved Rachel Omamo from the Defence docket to Foreign
Affairs while Sicily Kariuki who was then serving as the CS for Health was
moved to the Water.
Kariuki took over from Simon Chelugui who was moved to the
Labour ministry.
Peter Munya moved from Trade and Industrialisation to
Agriculture while Monica Juma swapped places with Omamo.
Ukur Yatani was confirmed as the substantive National
Treasury Cabinet Secretary. He had been the acting CS after Rotich was charged
in July last year.
Mutahi Kagwe and Betty Maina were brought on board as Health and Industrialisation cabinet secretaries respectively. - The Star
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