Interior and Coordination Cabinet nominee Joseph ole Lenku says he is ready to deliver

By CYRUS OMBATI

Nairobi, Kenya: The Cabinet Secretary nominee for Interior and Coordination of National Government Joseph ole Lenku has declared he is up to the task and pledged to serve Kenyans equally.

Ole Lenku said he was surprised by the nomination adding that he will deliver.

“The work is doable because we have what it takes. It is God’s blessings that I have been nominated,” he told The Standard.

The nominee said he was informed by his staff at 1PM that he had been nominated to the most powerful position.

He said he will issue a comprehensive statement once he is cleared by Parliament and sworn into office.

A shy looking Ole Lenku’s mobile phone kept ringing as he offered interview with the callers offering their congratulations.

Mr Ole Lenku is a career hotelier, having served the industry since 1996.

He holds a Bachelor of Commerce, majoring in marketing from the University of Nairobi and a Diploma in Hotel Management from the Kenya Utalii College.

He also has MBA in strategic management. He is a former manager at Kilaguni Lodge and worked with the Serena Hotels in Tanzania.

The principal of Utalii College Dr Keneth Ombongi who is immediate boss of Ole Lenku hailed the nomination saying his experience will help the tourism sector be stable and grow.

“He understands some of the problems that the tourism industry faces at large. We have faith he will restore the much needed security to boost tourism,” said Ombongi.

Ole Lenku was also among the over 300 people who applied for jobs as Principal Secretaries.

He said the nomination as a Cabinet Secretary was an honour to him from the President as he vowed to deal with insecurity issues in the country.

A statement from the Presidential Press Service said President Kenyatta had already forwarded the two names to Parliament for approval.

Parliament’s Committee on Appointments will have 14 days to conduct approval hearings on the suitability of the two to hold office. They will then submit a report and recommendations to the House. MPs will then be required to either approve or reject the nominations.

In his new Executive structure released in April, Kenyatta announced that the ministries of Interior and Coordination of National Government and that of Devolution and Planning, will be placed under him and Deputy President William Ruto.

This means that the two leaders will oversee the functions of either of the two ministries, depending on which they pick.

“Under the presidency, there will be the Executive Office of the President and the Executive Office of the Deputy President with two ministries; Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government and Ministry of Devolution and Planning.”