The Cabinet Secretary job has proved to be one of the most coveted positions that can be held by any qualified individual in the country.
According to the Kenyan Constitution, the President is allowed to create a maximum of 22 ministries which have proved to be a headache during his second term in office.
Anxiety and confusion gripped Cabinet Secretaries after the President named his first batch of appointees to his government and Kenyans.co.ke sought to find out why these positions are coveted.
Money can be attributed as one of the reasons why people lobby for the CS position.
[caption caption="President Uhuru during a presser with some cabinet secretaries"]
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A CS earns a basic salary of Sh784,000 and allowances adding up to Sh336,000 which amounts of Sh1,120,000.
The position also comes with quite some influence in the Ministry since the Cabinet Secretary is the overall head of the various departments.
It is also their duty to approve work, procurement, and cash flow plans, personnel management, oversight in sanctioning procurement in MDAs (ministries, departments, and agencies) and SAGAs.
They also play a greater role in personnel management in their ministries, particularly in decisions to do with hiring, promotion, career progression, discipline and exit for officers.
Kenyans.co.ke sought the insight of Dr Bonny Khalalwe who was an Assistant Minister in 2006-2007 and stated that the culture in Kenya has led to communities lobbying for the positions.
According to the former Kakamega Senator, there is a general thought that if someone is appointed to the position, his community will have access to more resources.
"Tradition set in the country is that the executive controls the delivery of services in the regions," Dr Khalwale stated.
"Communities feel the need to lobby for these positions and have their sons appointed to the Cabinet believing they will get unlimited access to resources," he added.
Dr Khalwale added that there was a need to have "true modern institutions that have been strengthened for better service delivery to all Kenyans."
[caption caption="Dr Bonny Khalwalwe"]
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He further added that such positions give an individual visibility which is good for politics explaining why some CSs used it as stepping stone to vie for elective posts.
Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru was appointed to the Ministry of Devolution and planning and is recognized as the force behind Huduma Centres, the 30% procurement rule, which accords at least 30 percent of all supply contracts to the government to the youth, persons with disability and women.
Another Governor who got visibility and ventured into elective politics is Kajiado county boss Ole Lenku, who was Cabinet Secretary for Interior and Coordination of National Government from 2013 to 2014.
Although a seasoned politician, Kitui governor Charity Ngilu also served as the Cabinet Secretary for Land, Housing and Urban Development from 2013 until 2015 before she vied for the Kitui gubernatorial election.
Since President Kenyatta announced 9 of his CSs, various analysts and leaders have escalated the talk with reports claiming the move has sparked tension between him and DP Ruto.
The Head of State is expected to name the remaining Cabinet Secretaries with Kenyans eager to know who will be selected for the posts.
