President Uhuru Kenyatta on Tuesday evening announced a cabinet reshuffle dropping five Cabinet Secretaries linked to corruption.
The five who were suspended eight months ago include: Charity Ngilu (Lands), Felix Kosgei (Agriculture), David Chirchir (Energy), Kazungu Kambi (Labour) and Engineer Michael Kamau (Transport and Infrastructure).
Their dockets were filled with new names including Malindi MP Dan Kazungu, coming in for Kambi Kazungu and Kericho Senator Charles Keter replacing David Chirchir in an ethnic balance play.
Former Assistant Minister Mwangi Kiunjuri was the surprise of the day, taking the Devolution docket vacated by Anne Waiguru, who resigned on Saturday citing health reasons occasioned by corruption attacks on her.
The new members of Cabinet including Sicily Kanini Kariuki (Public Service, Youth & Gender Affairs), Joe Mucheru (ICT) and Willy Bett (Agriculture) are expected to undergo vetting in Parliament before assuming the positions.
The axe did not spare David Chirchir, who had already been cleared of graft allegations leveled against him, with the move being seen as a show of new commitment by the Presidency in the fight against corruption.
It is not known whether the fired Cabinet Secretaries will be awarded other positions in Government if cleared of graft implications, but what is certain is that Charity Ngilu is going back to politics.
Ngilu said a few days ago at a function in Mwingi Central constituency, that she would be going for an elective position. She further dismissed vying for the Kitui County Senatorial seat, leaving residents almost sure that she was eyeing the county's top job.
“I will come to you at the election time but you must rest assured I will not be going for the senator position,” Ngilu said.
President Kenyatta made the appointments just a day after announcing stringent measures that his Government would impliment in the war against corruption.
Read also: Reshuffle: Full List of Uhuru Kenyatta's New Cabinet
