Ruto Cabinet: Ex-Raila Strategist Among 10 New Entrants [LIST]

President William Ruto leads Cabinet Secretaries in a word of prayer before chairing his inaugural cabinet meeting at State House on Tuesdfay, Seeptember 27, 2022.
President William Ruto leads Cabinet Secretaries in a word of prayer before chairing his inaugural cabinet meeting at State House on Tuesday, September 27, 2022.
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President William Ruto nominated Eliud Owalo, a former strategist of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, as ICT cabinet secretary, while unveiling his Cabinet on Tuesday, September 27.

Owalo will succeed outgoing CS Joe Mucheru at the Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) docket. 

The politician served as Raila's campaign manager before he switched from the role in 2019 to join Amani National Congress (ANC) headed by Musalia Mudavadi.

A year later, Owalo ditched ANC citing the need to allow its party leader to make decisions and threw his weight behind Ruto's State House bid.

Politician Eliud Owalo (left) with ANC Party Leader Musalida Mudavadi at a past function
Politician Eliud Owalo (left) with ANC Party Leader Musalida Mudavadi at a past function
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At UDA, he was elevated to the position of deputy secretary general in charge of strategy, serving second in command to the party's secretary general, Veronica Maina.

Other 10 new entrants in the Cabinet included former Central Bank of Kenya governor, Njuguna Ndung'u, tasked with heading the Treasury and Social Planning as well as Rebecca Miano to handle the East African Community.

Others are Environment's Soipan Tuya, Zachariah Njeru (Lands and Housing), Peninah Malonza (Tourism), Susan Nakhumicha (Health), Ezekiel Machogu (Education), Florence Florence Bore (Labour and Social Protection) Harriet Kigai (Advisor on women's rights) and Mercy Wanjao (Secretary to the Cabinet).

Ndung'u, a professor of Economics, served as CBK governor between 2007 and 2015. 

Miano, on the other hand, was plucked from her role as the Managing Director and CEO of Kenya Electricity Generating Company PLC, a position she held since October 2017.

Tuya, who served as Narok Woman Representative, was given the Environment docket after shelving her gubernatorial ambitions at UDA party while Malonza was given the Tourism docket after serving as Kitui deputy governor. 

In the all-powerful Education Ministry, Ruto entrusted Ezekiel Machogu who lost the Kisii governor race under the UDA ticket to reform the Competency-Based Curriculum that has been a thorn in the flesh of parents, teachers and other stakeholders. 

"Thank you, President William Ruto and your deputy, Rigathi Gachagua, for appointing me Cabinet Secretary for Education," Machogu celebrated after the announcement was made. 

The 11 are part of the 22-member Cabinet that will also include the head of state, his deputy, Gachagua, and Attorney General nominee, Justin Muturi.

EX-CBK Governor Prof Njuguna Ndung'u in a past event.
Treasury CS Njuguna Ndung'u in a past event.
Kenyans.co.ke