Clad in matching white, long shirtsleeves, grey trousers, security detail in almost matching suits, President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto cut a figure of a tag team.
That they are working in tandem is not in doubt as they go about putting together the 18-member Cabinet supposed to define their administration.
Despite puncturing the very high public expectation that they would unveil their entire Cabinet Secretary team by naming the four key dockets of Information, Communication and Technology, National Treasury, Health and Foreign Affairs, the two leaders were categorical that they had their eye firmly on the ball.
“Our Promise: Together we shall rise up at dawn, work with all our hearts, all day, every day, until every pledge is fully discharged. You have seen us deliver before; you can trust us with the future.”
These are the words that splashed the Jubilee Alliance billboards along the UhuRuto campaign trail. Indeed, they were clear yesterday that their style would have a marked shift from tradition. No more hanging around the lunchtime Radio and TV News bulletin for a Cabinet announcement or reshuffle.
Theirs has been that of two top CEOs head-hunting, interviewing and hiring the best possible and most suitable technocrats to oversee their stable.
In the leaders’ inaugural speeches, they promised to tap into the deep Kenyan cauldron of youth and reach deep into the granary of Kenyan managerial experience and management for the heads of the amalgamated ministerial dockets.
And again, it was evident from the first four nominees that they considered experience, hands-on approach, international exposure and local footprints on the Kenyan economy. If these were the basic considerations, then the names of Dr Fred Okengo Matiangi, Mr Henry Rotich, Mr James Wainaina Macharia and Ambassador Amina Mohamed are intelligent choices for the proposed dockets.
As they continue to personally vet their choice of Cabinet Secretary, the Appointments Committee from Parliament is expected to start accepting questions from the public regarding these four, even as the other names stream in. The delay should not hold them back, since, as the President observed, vetting is conducted on individuals and their integrity, and competence. It is not about vetting the entire Cabinet as a team, although the Cabinet will be expected to operate as a cohesive unit.
Separation of powers as written into the new Constitution means the four are first among the other 14 equals who shall join them as they attempt to fly over the newly-raised bar of integrity.
Yesterday’s unveiling was yet another step in the transition etched into the letter and spirit of the Constitution so that the nation sharply divided by the last election puts politics aside and gets down to improving livelihoods and building the Motherland.
Let’s give the President and his deputy time and space to complete the nomination process for there is still a lot of work ahead.
