The Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary nominee James Wandayi on Saturday dismissed allegations of benefitting from the aftermath of the Gen Z protests to apply for the strategic cabinet position.
Wandayi while addressing the National Assembly’s Committee on Appointments, clarified that his name was fronted for the cabinet position by a different person.
According to the former National Assembly Minority Leader, despite his nomination to cabinet, he was still in support of the issues raised by the anti-government protesters.
Wandayi noted the issues raised by the youths were of much importance and required an urgent response from the government.
Despite backing the Gen Zs, Wandayi noted that some of the matters raised by the protesters bore similarities to the ones previously raised in the National Assembly.
“The youths were not raising any different issues that we were raising in parliament, but the issues they were raising were pertinent issues that must be addressed,” Wandayi clarified.
"Therefore it is not proper to say that we took advantage of the Gen Z clamour. I never applied to join the executive, but I was pleased that my name was recommended,” he added.
The former legislator commended the Head of State for nominating him to cabinet, noting there was a need for a balance in making government appointments.
"I still maintain the view that we are not in any way in betrayal of the youth. We are coming on board in a paradigm shift. We are living in different times," the CS nominee told the committee.
Wandayi was among the four Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party officials nominated to the position of cabinet secretary by President William Ruto.
He was nominated alongside John Mbadi (Treasury), Hassan Joho (Mining) and Wycliffe Oparanya (Cooperatives).
Following his nomination to the cabinet, Wandayi recently announced his decision to step down from his parliamentary position, paving the way for fresh elections.
