Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has named Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka as part of his cabinet team should he win the August 9 elections.
Speaking at the Kenyatta International Convention Center (KICC) on Monday, May 16, the presidential aspirant noted that Musyoka would be the Chief Cabinet Secretary and tasked him with the coordination of core government functions.
He also appointed several other leaders who will work under Musyoka including Kenneth Marende who will serve as the Senate Speaker and Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya who will take the role of Cabinet Secretary for National Treasury.
Peter Munya was nominated for the role of CS Agriculture and will also serve as the chairman in the Kenya Productive Sector while Ali Hassan Joho will serve as the CS for Lands.
Joho was picked 'to deal with the historical land injustices in the Coast region and around the borders'.
In his address where he also selected former Presidential aspirant Martha Karua as his running mate, Raila explained that the team had been chosen due to their energy and experience.
"Their commitment to Kenya to change efficiency and their energy speaks for itself," he stated.
Karua will also double as the Cabinet Secretary for Justice, a position that remained unoccupied since 2013 as President Uhuru Kenyatta merged it with the office of the Attorney General.
Joho, Oparanya, Munya and Musyoka had applied and attended interviews seeking to deputise Raila in the upcoming General Election.
Raila's announcement countered that of Kalonzo Musyoka who announced his own Presidential run, a decision he said was reached after being shortchanged in the Azimio coalition.
The Wiper leader argued that he had fallen out with the former Prime Minister and their differences could not be resolved despite a meeting between the duo.
"My brother Raila knows I am naming my running mate. He came to my house to try and convince me to accept his choice. We did not agree and he said he would choose Martha and I told him I would choose my own running mate," stated Musyoka.
While appointing Karua, Raila also revealed that he was working towards expanding the role of the women in his government.
"After 60 years of indepence, we cannot excuse the male domination of the executive. For the first time on the history of our republic, history is calling us to close the gender gap in our country. History is calling us to produce our first woman Deputy President," stated Raila.
Raila and Karua will square it out for the Presidency with that of Deputy President William Ruto and his running mate Rigathi Gachagua.
