President Uhuru Kenyatta, on Wednesday, appointed Labour CS Ukur Yatani as the acting Treasury CS.
A statement sent to newsrooms by State House spokesperson Kanze Dena read;
"In order to ensure smooth operations and continuity at the National Treasury...following the court order affecting the cabinet secretary for the National Treasury and Planning, Henry Rotich, and Treasury Principal Secretary, Dr Kamau Thugge, His Excellency the President has made the following changes to the organization of Government:
"(I) Hon. (Amb.) Ukur Yatani Kanacho, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, assumes, in acting capacity, the cabinet secretary responsibility for National Treasury and Planning."
"(II) Dr Julius Monzi Muia is appointed as the Principal Secretary for the National Treasury.
"(III) Mr Torome Saitoti is appointed as the Principal Secretary for the State Department of Planning.
"(IV) Maj. Gen. (Rtd) Gordon Kihalangwa is appointed as the Principal Secretary for the Ministry of Defence."
Yatani takes over from Rotich who is facing charges in connection with the Arror and Kimwarer dams scandal.
He served as the Governor of Marsabit County between 2013 and 2017. He holds a masters in Public Administration and Policy from New York University in the UK and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Sociology from Egerton University (graduated 1991).
Uhuru's latest move comes as a surprise since experts had earlier speculated that Transport CS James Macharia and his East African Community and Regional Development counterpart, Adan Mohamed, were the suitable candidates for their background in Finance.
Rotich was arrested on Monday, alongside his PS, Kamau Thugge, and was subsequently released on a Ksh15 million cash bail.
The case is set for mention on August 8, 2019, which will then determine the pre-trial date.
