Hello and welcome to the Wednesday edition of the Evening Brief Newsletter where orange is the new yellow in Ruto’s Cabinet.
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Ruto's 3 Options
President William Ruto is set to complete the creation of his broad-based Cabinet following the nomination of an additional 10 Cabinet Secretaries.
With the naming of the 10 nominees, Ruto is left with three Cabinet slots including the Attorney General.
As detailed in Chapter 152 of the 2010 Constitution, the Cabinet comprises the President, the Deputy President, the AG and Cabinet Secretaries that do not exceed 22.
Already, the President has nominated 20 individuals to different dockets. That leaves the President with 2 open slots for CSs including that of the East African Community docket. The AG slot will be the 3rd option.
The Options
- Nominate an AG
- Nominate a CS to the EAC docket.
- Split an existing Ministry (Should Prime CS Musalia Mudavadi continue to hold the Foreign Affairs docket) or drop Musalia as the Foreign Affairs CS and nominate a new CS.
Orange is the New Yellow
Meanwhile, the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has become the greatest beneficiary with the recent dissolution of the Cabinet.
This is evident by the nomination of four allies of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga. The nominees are also senior bosses of the opposition party.
One notable nominee was John Mbadi who will head the National Treasury should his name be approved by the National Assembly. Mbadi currently serves as a nominated MP and the ODM chairperson.
Likewise, Hassan Joho and Wycliffe Oparanya were nominated to Mining and Cooperative dockets respectively. The duo are the ODM deputy party leaders
Meanwhile, National Assembly Minority leader Opiyo Wandayi is set to resign from his position in Parliament following his nomination to the Energy docket.
Consequence:
- Following the nomination of Wandayi to Cabinet, a by-election is expected in Ugunja Constituency should his name be approved. Azimio la Umoja Coalition will also be expected to name a new minority leader in the National Assembly.
- Likewise, ODM will be forced to nominate a new MP to Parliament should Mbadi take charge of the National Treasury.
Here is the list of the 20 CS nominees;
- Ministry of the Interior and National Administration - Kithure Kindiki
- Ministry of Health - Debra Mlongo Barasa
- Ministry of Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development - Alice Wahome
- Ministry of Education - Julius Migos Ogamba
- Ministry of Defence - Roselinda Soipan Tuya
- Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development - Andrew Mwihia Karanja
- Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry - Aden Barre Duale
- Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation - Eric Muriithi Mugaa
- Ministry of Roads and Transport - Davis Chirchir
- Ministry of Information, Communication and the Digital Economy - Margaret Nyambura Ndung'u
- Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife - Rebecca Miano
- The National Treasury and Economic Planning - John Mbadi Ng'ongo
- Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry - Salim Mvurya Mgala
- Ministry of Energy and Petroleum - James Opiyo Wandayi
- Ministry of Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports - Onesimus Kipchumba Murkomen
- Ministry of Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs - Hassan Ali Joho
- Ministry of Labour and Social Protection - Alfred Nganga Mutua
- Ministry of Co-operatives and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Development - Wycliffe Ambetsa Oparanya
- Ministry of Public Service and Human Capital Development - Justin Bedan Muturi
- Ministry of Gender, Culture, the Arts and Heritage - Stella Soi Lang’at
The 12 Remnants
12 former Cabinet Secretaries have been left out in the cold in the broad-based Cabinet. Notable faces who are yet to be reappointed include former Treasury CS Njuguna Ndung'u, his Public Service counterpart Moses Kuria and Ababu Namwamba (Sports).
Also missing out on a nomination include Mithika Linturi (Agriculture), Ezekiel Machogu(Education), Simon Chelugui(Cooperatives), Susan Nakkhumicha (Health) and Peninah Malonza (EAC).
Zacharia Njeru who served as Water CS, Eliud Owalo (ICT) Florance Bore (Labour) and Aisha Jumwa (Gender) were also left out.
Ksh 28M Royal Trip
The Royal Family revealed the millions they spent during a State Visit to Kenya in November 2023.
As detailed in the Sovereign Grant Report 2023-24, accessed by the Evening Brief Newsletter team, King Charles and Queen Camila spent £167,000 (Ksh28.5 million) on the three-day visit to Kenya.
Notably, the Kenyan visit was the most expensive State Visit made by the Royals.
The second most expensive travel by the King and Queen was the State Visit to France at £123,000 (Ksh21 million)
"The Sovereign Grant meets the cost of official journeys undertaken by or in support of The Sovereign and other members of the Royal Family in order to enable them to undertake a varied programme of public engagements, both within the United Kingdom and overseas.
"The programme of overseas visits (other than Realm visits) funded by the Sovereign Grant is determined by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) undertaken on behalf of the Government and is approved by the Royal Visits Committee according to the agreed priorities," read the report in part.
Here are the top five stories for the Day;
- 14 Kenyans make a fresh move to remove President William Ruto and Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua from power.
- President William Ruto directs police to release some protesters.
- Why you will be fined Ksh50,000 for failing to report an accident on the road?
- Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) explains why it entered a JKIA revamp deal with an Indian company.
- Unhappy with the new CS nominees? Here is how to present your memorandum to Parliament.
This newsletter was written by Washington Mito and edited by Brian Muuo.
Derrick Kubasu contributed to the content.
Graphics prepared by Adongo Kyalo.