A section of leaders in Kajiado County have rallied behind newly appointed Internal Security Minister Katoo ole Metito against an attack by some leaders led by assistant minister Joseph Nkaissery.
Olkejuado County Council chairman Taraya ole Kores led a group of councillors, elders and youths yesterday in backing Metito, saying he had the experience required to run the key ministry in Government.
“Experience is something one gains over a period of time and Metito, a well-educated young leader, has been an assistant minister for the last eight years,” Kores said.
Kores said President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga did not err in appointing the Kajiado South MP as new minister as they had researched well.
Nkaissery had at the weekend dismissed Metito as an inexperienced leader who did not have the capacity to run the ministry and should have been given another docket.
Some Maasai elders had also said the position should have been given to PNU acting chairman and Kilgoris legislator Gideon Konchella or Nkaissery, both of whom have a military background.
Youths in Migori County have also faulted the appointment of Gwassi MP John Mbadi as an assistant minister in the Prime Minister’s office.
“It is now very clear that the PM favours Suba sub-tribe of the Luo community as he has appointed Otieno Kajwang’ as Immigration minister, Caroli Omondi as his Chief of Staff, Millie Odhiambo as Nominated MP, Mbadi as assistant minister and two other directors at his office,” said youth leader Tom Oduor.
clearly sidelined
Mbadi defeated Caroli in the 2007 ODM parliamentary nomination and the two are said to be in not-so-friendly terms.
Oduor yesterday said the appointments would be a campaign issue in the next General Election as other regions were clearly sidelined in the key appointments.
A source in the Prime Minister’s office said the appointment of John Mbadi and Ababu Namwamba was a reward to the ODM Reloaded team.
