Uhuru asked to pick experts for Cabinet posts

By Standard Team

Nairobi, Kenya: As debate on the much-awaited Cabinet rages, pressure is piling on President-elect Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto to pick credible persons.

While National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi asked MPs to ensure names submitted meet the threshold of the positions, Kiambu Governor William Kabogo cautioned against appointing politicians who won or lost in the General Election.

“Persons to occupy the positions in the Cabinet should be of high integrity and able to meet the expectations of Kenyans. I am waiting to see the names to be presented in the House,” said Muturi.

Muturi was addressing mourners in Kiminini Constituency during the burial of Lazaro Wekesa.

The deceased was father to Saboti legislator David Wekesa.

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He said composition of Cabinet was crucial and nomination exercise required critical and deep consultation to come up with persons committed to move the country forward.

“We expect to see the nominations of technocrats to head the Cabinet. I urge MPs to critically vet names in Parliament and ensure we have a focused team,” he added.

Lost or won

Kabogo said the Government should have a set of new people for the positions, adding that appointing a person who was rejected by the people would be an injustice to Kenyans. Speaking at PCEA Thika town, the governor said those who were elected should stick to their positions.

“I am opposed to the appointment of those politicians who lost or won in election as ministers. It’s like asking me to ignore the wish of Kiambu people and seek the position in Cabinet,” Kabogo told journalists after the fundraising.

He added: “If someone was rejected by the electorate, it means they are non-performers and not fit for the offices.” Kabogo said Uhuru and Ruto should not subject Kenyans to unnecessary by-elections by appointing some of the elected leaders for the positions.

He said there are qualified and competent Kenyans who can hold the positions other than recycling leaders. At the same time, Kabogo defended his move for transferring the Governor’s office from Kiambu to Thika.

“Kiambu is, and will remain the headquarters but it is said we will move the offices to Thika and have some offices in Limuru because we do not have good offices in Kiambu town,” he said.

Meanwhile, Kigumo MP Jamleck Kamau denied reports that he is likely to be among the 22 names that Uhuru and Ruto will pick.

The MP said it’s the prerogative of president-elect to nominate individuals as Cabinet secretaries.

Kamau said the president can pick nominees from any category of qualified persons including serving legislators or ex-MPs, who were floored during the last general elections.

–– Reports by Osinde Obare, Luke Anami, Erick Wainaina and Geoffrey Mosoku.