Activist Okiya Omtatah has described the decision by President Uhuru Kenyatta to create the new position of Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) in all 22 ministries as unconstitutional, and expressed confidence that it would be quashed by a court of law.
In an conversation with Kenyans.co.ke on Saturday, Omtatah stated that he hoped to file a case challenging the move on Monday next week.
While unveiling his full cabinet on Friday, President Kenyatta expained that CASs would 'broadly be responsbible for helping Cabinet Secretaries run the afairs of the ministry'.
Omtatah maintains that the President is afforded only limited powers by the Constitution, and that the Public Service Commission (PSC) should have been central to any process of creating a position other than Cabinet Secretary (CS) and Principal Secretary (PS).
"Jubilee believes there is no law in this country. They think the law is an impediment," he stated.
[caption caption="President Kenyatta as he named his new cabinet on Friday"]
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Among the leaders who President Kenyatta appointed as CASs are former Budalangi MP Ababu Namwamba and former Nairobi Woman Representative Rachel Shebesh.
Namwamba will be CAS in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs while Shebesh will be in the Public Service, Youth and Gender docket.
The position brings back memories of the 'Assistant Minister' position which existed in the previous constitutional dispensation.
"In this case, he is standing on air. It's nonsensical," Omtatah stated.
The names of Uhuru's appointments will be forwarded to Parliament for vetting.
[caption caption="President Kenyatta with Ababu Namwamba"]
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