President William Ruto, on Friday morning, December 2, appointed 51 individuals to serve as Principal Secretaries (PSs) in various cabinet dockets.
In a gazette notice dispatched by State House spokesperson, Hussein Mohammed, the president confirmed that the PSs will be sworn in on the same day.
"In the exercise of powers conferred to me by article 155 (3) b of the Constitution, I, William Ruto, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces of the Republic of Kenya, appoint the following to be Principal Secretaries in the Government of the Republic of Kenya," read the statement.
Among those who will take the oath of office are poll losers and the president's loyalists.
Former Lang’ata MP Nixon Korir and Cleophas Malala’s running mate in the Kakamega gubernatorial race, Beatrice Inyangala, were some of the lucky poll losers who will form part of Ruto's government.
Seasoned civil servants, Bellio Kipsang, Julius Korir, Ambassador Julius Bitok, former Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) ICT boss James Muhati and the president’s legal advisor Dr. Korir Sing'oe also made a comeback.
Their appointment came two days after the National Assembly concluded the vetting process.
While receiving the report from the departmental committees, Speaker Moses Wetangula noted that the exercise was properly conducted in strict adherence to the rule of law.
Labour Court Judge Nzioki wa Makau on November 21, 2022, had suspended the vetting and appointment of the PSs until a case that was filed by the Law Society of Kenya was heard and determined.
In a court order, Justice Makau ruled: "Pending hearing of this application inter partes on November 21, 2022, a conservatory order is hereby issued restraining and/or barring the Respondents from receiving or if already received the list of nominees, barring the processing, vetting, or in any way proceeding or processing the nomination for appointment and/or appointing the first to 51st Interested parties herein as Principal Secretaries as communicated vide a Press Release dated November 2, 2022, by Mr. Felix K. Koskei, Head of Public Service."
However, the vetting of Principal Secretaries resumed after the Employment and Labour Relations Court on November 29, dismissed three petitions challenging Ruto’s 51 nominees.
Justice Nduma Nderi ruled that petitions by LSK, activist Fredrick Bikeri and Dr Magare Gikenyi were filed prematurely and the court could only be approached once the National Assembly concluded the vetting process.
“This is a sacred mandate given to the House by the people of Kenya and the court must pay a difference to the House in that respect. Accordingly, the consolidated petitions have been filed prematurely,” the judge ruled.
“The court only hopes that appropriate presentations were made to the National Assembly by members of the public in terms of the Act to complete that process,” Nderi assured.
