Barely days after President William Ruto's cabinet nominees were vetted, the Head of State has gazetted their appointments awaiting their swearing in to begin work.
On Wednesday night, Ruto, via a special gazette notice, officially appointed Public Service nominee Geoffrey Ruku and Gender nominee Hanna Wendot Cheptumo to the cabinet.
This followed an approval by the National Assembly after vetting by the Appointments Committee and a contentious debate in the House on Wednesday.
Ruto's appointments come despite an uproar from human rights advocates, politicians and Kenyans in general over remarks made by the new Gender CS during her vetting on Monday.
In what has been widely described as victim blaming, Cheptumo alleged that victims of femicide often met their fate when looking for money.
According to her, these women lacked economic empowerment or the education required to gain skills to make their own money, as "a girl has many needs."
During the debate on Wednesday, most MPs from different party lines agreed that the remarks were unfortunate, but an apology would suffice.
However, Kimani Ichung'wah, the Majority Leader, led the lawmakers in apologising on behalf of the new nominee. An unverified X account of Cheptumo also took the liberty to apologise.
Her Public Service counterpart, Mbeere North MP Ruku, on his end, seized the Wednesday session to bid goodbye to the House.
"It has been the honour of my life to serve my constituents in this Parliament for two years and seven months," Ruku stated.
"Let me also express my sincere appreciation to you, Hon. Speaker, my esteemed colleagues, and the Clerk of the National Assembly for the remarkable support you have accorded me."
Other nominees approved in the gazette notice are 14 principal secretaries whose vetting process has also just wrapped up.
They are; Jane Kere Imbunya (Dr.), Regina Akoth Ombam, Cyrell Odede Wagunda, Caroline Wanjiru Karugu (Dr.), Fredrick Ouma Oluga (Dr.), Ahmed Abdisalan Ibrahim, Judith Nayiai Ramaita-Pareno, Bonface Barasa Makokha, Shaukat Ali Abdulrazak (Prof.), Stephen Isaboke, Michael Lenasalon, Fikirini Jacobs Katoi Kahindi, Carren Ageng'o Achieng and Aden Abdi Millah.
