Ministerial positions should be given to people with managerial experience

Parliamentary Committee on Appointment during the vetting of President William Ruto's Cabinet Secretary Nominees on Aug 4, 2024. [Elvis Ogina, Standard]

Celebrations that followed the dissolution of the cabinet by President William Ruto seem to have sent a wrong signal to some Kenyans, especially the youth. The wrong impression created was that the young people would be appointed to the cabinet. In a press conference, Embakasi MP Babu Owino regretted that the youth had not been considered for plum positions. Another misconception which, in my view, may have caused the disappointment is that the president was going to appoint men and women with technical skills that go hand in hand with the specific ministries they are appointed to. The disappointment you see among some youth is borne out of these misconceptions.

The Cabinet Secretary position is not suitable for the youth. The CS position is a high-level managerial position that requires, over and above, technical skills that our young people do not possess. It needs men and women with proven track records in senior managerial positions. This is not limited to ministerial positions alone. Many private entities and blue-chip companies will be reluctant to retain a fresh graduate as a CEO. I'm yet to see a commercial bank that will risk recruiting a graduate fresh from campus to oversee its operations. If such a small private entity demands postgraduate qualifications on top of long periods of job experience, what of public offices that carry the aspirations and dreams of millions? Definitely, the bar should be even higher.