President William Ruto's allies came to his defence on Friday, March 17, after a public uproar over the nomination of 50 Chief Administrative Secretaries (CASs) set to cost the taxpayers Ksh500 million per year in salaries.
In a statement, Defence Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale explained that the nominees were crucial to implementing Kenya Kwanza's development plan.
He noted that the CASs would be crucial as they act as the link with other government agencies. Duale added that the nominees were visionary leaders with years of experience.
"The auxiliary roles of the Chief Administrative Secretaries (CAS) are important in driving the Ministries' goals and the Government's Development Agenda.
"I thank President William Ruto and Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua for equipping our ministries with able and visionary Kenyans in the CAS appointees," he stated.
On his part, Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo noted that the President had diversified the list to cater for a number of regions in the country.
"The nominees are illustrious Kenyans and dedicated public servants who have expressed unwavering support to the Government's transformative agenda," he stated
Ruto'a allies responded to Kenyans who raised concern over the costs involved to cater for the salaries and allowances of the 50 nominees.
Various reports show that the nominees will earn Ksh765,000 monthly and be entitled to a Ksh10 million car grant and a mortgage of Ksh35 million.
Given the high cost of living, a number of online users wondered why the President did not settle for 21 CASs - one for each ministry. In some of the ministries, Ruto picked 3 nominees.
"Appointment of 50 CAS is of no value to Kenyans and goes against the scaling down of government excesses," Emman Drew commented.
"The government has no money to employ junior secondary school teachers n is underpaying our ECD teachers 6k per month but has money to appoint 50 CAS," Ummul Kher argued.
Some of the notable Kenyans who were nominated as CASs were Dennis Itumbu (ICT), Evans Kidero (Trade), Millicent Omanga (Interior), Isaac Mwaura (Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary) and Wilson Sossion (Tourism).
