As President Uhuru Kenyatta prepares to name his freshly constituted Cabinet, Jubilee leaders from Embu have differed on whether Public Service Cabinet Secretary Sicily Kariuki should be retained.
One group maintains that CS Kariuki should retain her position while another argues that anyone else, who is qualified and resides in the county, should be given the position.
The second group alluded to the fact that Mrs Kariuki was married in Nyandarua County, noting that they would prefer if someone who is in regular contact with Embu residents was awarded the position.
Led by County Assembly Majority Leader Michael Njeru, Governor Martin Wambora’s former Political Adviser Joshua Kanake and County Assembly Chief Whip Margaret Kariuki, the leaders highlighted that Embu residents overwhelmingly backed President Kenyatta's re-election and therefore, deserved to be rewarded.
In an apparent reference to CS Kariuki, Kanake stated: “Let’s have actual residents getting appointments so we feel we belong in this government. Everybody knows what I mean,”
[caption caption="President Uhuru Kenyatta and DP William Ruto"]
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Mr Njeru, on his part, noted: “For a long time, we’ve not been having a CS from Embu. Those who have been appointed are not residents. Though they are people from our motherland, they don’t have day-to-day contact with residents.”
“We can get a lady. One who resides in Embu county who we can easily go to and see at their homes when there are issues — not somebody we don’t know where to find,” County Assembly Chief Whip added.
Maendeleo ya Wanawake Chairlady, Mary Kavinda, however demanded that President Kenyatta retain CS Kariuki.
Mbeere North MP Muriuki Njagagua, former Transport PS Cyrus Njiru and Wambora’s current Political Adviser Albert Kigoro only noted that someone from the county should be appointed based on merit.
“Let the President consider merit in appointing his Cabinet and ensure that a person from Embu plays a role in doing so,” Njiru stated.
[caption caption="Embu County Assembly Majority Leader Michael Njeru"]
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