Uhuru, Ruto to name Cabinet after appointments team is formed

By VITALIS KIMUTAI  

NAIROBI, KENYA: President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto are expected to unveil the long awaited Cabinet list on Tuesday.

Multiple sources in the corridors of power said the two were waiting for the Parliamentary Committee on Appointments to be formed before releasing the names of 18 professionals to occupy the positions.

The move comes against a backdrop of claims that Uhuru and Ruto had disagreed on the sharing of slots and composition of the Cabinet.

The claims of a standoff has, however, been refuted by close allies of the two leaders as the public anxiously awaits its release. Ruto on Saturday gave an indication that he and the President were working on a list that would pass the test of time.

“His Excellency the President has an assignment from Kenyans. He is engrossed in assembling a Cabinet of men and women of integrity,” he said. Ruto added: “We will give you a list of men and women of integrity with the know-how and energy to deliver on their mandate and fulfill the Jubilee Coalition’s manifesto and pre-election promises.”

The Deputy President was speaking while officiating the opening of the Winner’s Chapel Church in Nairobi. Parliament’s Majority Leader Aden Duale is on Tuesday afternoon expected to table the list of 29 members of Parliament named to the committee after which he will move a motion for its adoption.

Parliamentary Standing Orders states that members of the committee shall consist of the Speaker (Justin Muturi) as chairperson, Deputy Speaker (Dr Joyce Laboso), Leader of the Majority Party (Duale), Leader of Minority Party (Francis Nyenze).

Standing Orders

“The Committee on Appointments shall consider, for approval by the House, appointments under Articles 152(2) of the Constitution (Cabinet secretaries),” states Standing Order 204 (4). Deputy Majority Leader Dr Naomi Shaban and Deputy Minority Leader Jakoyo Midiwo will be members of the committee by virtue of their positions.

The committee will have not more than 22 other members nominated by the House Business Committee on the basis of proportional membership in the House.

“It was not lost on keen observers that the President released a list of 18 ministries shortly after Duale last Thursday gave an indication in Parliament that the committee will be formed on Tuesday,” said Joseph Kongolo, a politician-cum-businessman.

The grapevine had it that Ruto’s United Republican Party (URP) had been short-changed in the sharing of Cabinet slots despite a 50-50 power sharing deal contained in the pre-election agreement with Uhuru’s The National A party which was deposited in the office of Registrar of Political Parties.

Elgeyo/Marakwet County Senator Kipchumba Murkomen said there was no disagreement between the President and his Deputy over naming of the Cabinet.

“Those expecting URP to be short-changed in Cabinet appointments will be in for a shock,” he said. Murkomen who is Ruto’s ally added: “This is a seamless partnership led by the best of friends — UhuRuto.”

Agreement

He said the President and his Deputy were in total agreement on the composition of the Cabinet no matter who suggested them and where the appointees come from. Tinderet MP Julius Melly, however, said that naming of the Cabinet was not tied to the parliamentary business and especially the formation of Committee on Appointments.

“The Principals have given an indication that they are fine-tuning the list so as to keep in line with their promise of a lean Cabinet with people of integrity and performers getting the key slots,” he said. Melly added: “The President and his Deputy do not want to want to bring in men and women who will be rejected because of integrity issues as that would be a major setback. I support their move to exercise due diligence ahead of releasing the list.”

Njoro MP Joseph Kiuna said that there was no disagreement between the President and his Deputy over the list of Cabinet Secretaries and Principal Secretaries as had been claimed in a section of the media.

“Those making such claims are far removed from reality and are hoping that their claims will spoil the relations between the two Principals,” Kiuna said yesterday.

There are unconfirmed reports that a number of prospective appointees had been dropped after the National Intelligence Services and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission objected to their being included in the Cabinet owing to integrity issues.