Ruto Nominates Second Batch of Cabinet Secretaries

Ruto
President William Ruto along side Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi during the announcement of new Cabinet nominees, State House, Friday, July 19.
Photo
PSC

President William Ruto on Wednesday, July 24, nominated the second batch of cabinet secretaries whose names will be forwarded to the National Assembly for vetting.

The proposed Cabinet Secretaries are: John Mbadi (National Treasury), Salim Mvurya (Investment Trade and Industry), Rebecca Miano (Tourism and Wildlife), Opiyo Wandayi (Energy and Petroleum), Kipchumba Murkomen (Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports).

Others appointed were: Hassan Joho (Mining and Blue Economy), Alfred Mutua (Labour and Social Protection), Wycliffe Oparanya (Cooperatives and MSMEs Development), Justin Muturi (Public Service), and Stella Lang'at (Gender, Culture, Arts & Heritage).

Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) was the largest winner in the nominations with its members taking lucrative positions in Ruto's cabinet.

Azimio Leader Raila Odinga (middle) endorsing Wickliffe Oparanya (left) and Ali Hassan Joho (right) as new ODM leaders on March 7, 2024
Azimio Leader Raila Odinga (middle) endorsing Wycliffe Oparanya (left) and Ali Hassan Joho (right) as new ODM leaders on March 7, 2024
Photo
Azimio Tv

This was despite an earlier statement by ODM that its members would not be part of Ruto's cabinet. 

In the new lineup, ODM Chairman John Mbadi will be in charge of the nation's coffers while deputy party leaders Joho and Oparanya will be in charge of Mining and Cooperative dockets respectively.

Additionally, Ugenya MP Opiyo Wandayi will have to relinquish his position as National Assembly Minority Leader to take up the position of Energy and Petroleum previously headed by Davis Chirchir.

Former Public Service CS Moses Kuria was among the notable figures of Ruto's former cabinet who were not nominated back to the Executive. 

Other former cabinet secretaries who missed renomination were Zachary Njeru (Water and Sanitation), Ezekiel Machogu (Education), Njuguna Ndung'u (Treasury) and Aisha Jumwa (Gender).

On Friday, July 19, President Ruto nominated the first batch of cabinet secretaries and Attorney General. 

The nominees were; Prof Kithure Kindiki (Interior and National Administration), Alice Wahome (Lands, Public Works, Urban Development and Housing),  and Davis Chirchir (Roads and Transport).

Others were; Dr Debra Mlongo Barasa (Health), Julius Migosi Ogamba (Education), Dr Andrew Mwihia Karanja (Agriculture and Livestock Development),  Eric Muriithi Muuga (Water, Sanitation and Irrigation) and  Margaret Nyambura Ndung’u (Information, Communication and Digital Economy).

Former Garissa Town MP Aden Duale was nominated to take up the Defence docket while Soipan Tuya was nominated to take up the Ministry of Environment but President Ruto on Tuesday, July 23 swapped the two.

This means Duale if approved, will be the new Environment CS while Tuya will be in charge of the Defence docket.

President William Ruto and Raila Odinga hold a press briefing outside KICC on Tuesday, July 9, 2023.
President William Ruto and Raila Odinga hold a press briefing outside KICC on Tuesday, July 9, 2023.
PCS