Metito is the new Internal Security minister

By FREDRICK OBURA

Katoo ole Metito is the new Minister for Provincial Administration and Internal Security and Ababu Namwamba takes over the Sports docket following a presidential appointment.

The Internal Security docket fell vacant on the death of George Saitoti on June 10, in a plane crash in Ngong that also claimed his assistant Orwa Ojode.

Defence minister Yusuf Haji has been acting in that capacity following the tragedy.

Metito, who until recently was an Assistant Minister in the Ministry of Regional Development, comes into the crucial docket when the country is facing security challenges like the recent Tana Delta clashes that saw about 100 people killed.

It is not just the Tana Delta clashes that the new minister will have to deal with; he has to up his game in the security docket ahead of the March 4 General Election.

The changes were made in consultation with Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

Paul Otuoma replaced Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi in the Local Government Docket. Mudavadi resigned his ministerial docket when he ditched ODM to join UDF.

Namwamba, who took over the Youth Affairs and Sports docket, is one of the MPs from the western region who has stuck with the Prime Minister following a walkout from ODM by a section of Western MPS who followed Mudavadi to UDF.

Alfred Khangati, who was until now an Assistant Minister, Office of the Prime Minister, has been transferred in the same capacity to the Provincial Administration and Internal Security Ministry.

He was replaced by Gwassi MP John Mbadi, an outspoken ODM MP  and a staunch supporter of the PM.

James Gesami, the West Mugirango MP recently acquitted of misappropriation of  Constituency Development Fund, was reinstated to the Public Health Ministry as an assistant minister.