Deputy President William Ruto has appointed Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ababu Namwaba to lead his presidential campaign team.
In a statement released on Wednesday, February 9, Ruto announced that Namwamba would take over as the Head of International Relations in spearheading the DP's bid to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta in the August 9 election.
Ababu had earlier indicated that he would not vie for any political seat in this year's polls and would instead focus on campaigning for the deputy president.
"We have worked closely with Ababu over the past 10 years on many fronts and I have come to value his leadership, experience, focus, and empathy. It is because of those qualities that I could not be more grateful to have him in our campaign team.
"With his considerable diplomatic talents, deep knowledge of the continent, strong network in the global stage, and unwavering determination. I am confident in his role, leading. international relations within my presidential campaign" Ruto's statement read in part.
Ruto described Ababu as a prolific public servant who has excelled especially in the international lobbying circuit and strongly advocated for human rights and trade policies.
"Namwamba has a highly impressive profile as a public interest attorney and has previously been very active on the international lobbying circuit, strongly advocating for international human rights and fair-trade practices," the statement added.
Before getting the appointment into Uhuru's cabinet in 2018, Ababu previously served as a Member of Parliament for two terms representing Budalangi Constituency.
He joins Turkana Governor Josphat Nanok who was earlier appointed Chairman of the DP's campaign Secretariat and Hussein Mohamed who heads communications for the unit.
"I want to thank you, people of Turkana, for allowing your governor to come and help me as the Director-General of my presidential campaigns so that he plans all the issues of the hustlers in our government in 2022,” Ruto said while approving Nanok's appointment.
Nanok who was elected on Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) ticket argued that United Democratic Alliance (UDA) has a higher chance of clinching the presidency.
