MPs fault William Ruto for leaving out Gusii in PS appointments

President William Ruto arrives at the judiciary building in Nairobi on Friday, November 04, 2022, during the launch of a report on the state of the judiciary and the administration of justice. [Collins Kweyu, Standard]

Members of Parliament from Kisii and Nyamira counties have taken issue with President William Ruto for failing to give the community a Principal Secretary position.

The 12 legislators who met in a Nairobi Hotel yesterday said that it will be the first time since independence that the Gusii will miss out in PS appointments.

Led by Gusii Parliamentary Caucus Chairman and North Mugirango MP Joash Nyamoko, the legislators said that while they appreciate the appointment of Ezekiel Machogu as the Education Cabinet Secretary and the Nomination of Gloria Orwoba and Esther Okenyuri as Senators they feel the community should have been considered for more appointments.

"While we appreciate the President having appointed our brother Ezekiel Machogu as the Education Cabinet Secretary and the Nomination of our Sisters Gloria Orwoba and Esther Okenyuri we feel that our community got a slap on the face after missing out in the 51 Principal Secretaries slots," said Mr Nyamoko.

The North Mugirango MP noted that the Gusii Community is the fifth largest in terms of population in the country and the second in terms of economic contribution in the country and deserved to get a fair share of the national cake.

Nyamoko said that while the Gusii also appreciated the appointment of South Mugirango MP Silvanus Osoro as the Majority Chief Whip the fact that they did not get a PS is causing jitters among the people.

The North Mugirango MP noted that out of the 47 counties it was only Nyamira and Wajir that did not get either a Cabinet Secretary or Principal Secretary.

"We all know that the President is yet to appoint Chief Administrative Secretaries and the Solicitor General, we are requesting that he ensures that the people of Kisii and Nyamira counties are not left out since it will not augur well especially for those leaders who campaigned for the President, " said Nyamoko.

The legislators who attended the meeting were Silvanus Osoro (South Mugirango), Alpha Miruka (Bomachoge Chache), Dan Manduku (Nyaribari Masaba), Japheth Nyakundi (Kitutu Chache North), Zaheer Jhanda (Nyaribari Chache) and Obadiah Barongo (Bomachoge Borabu).

Others were Jerusha Momanyi (Nyamira MP), Innocent Obiri (Bobasi), Steve Mogaka (West Mugirango), Charles Onchoke (Bonchari), Clive Gisairo (Kitutu Masaba) and Irine Mayaka (Nominated).

Speaking on behalf of the Gusii professionals, Advocate Danstan Omari accused the President of being on a revenge mission against the residents of Nyamira county where former Chief Justice David Maraga and former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangi hail from.

"The President got more than 200,000 votes from Kisii and Nyamira counties yet we have seen him reward communities that gave him very fewer votes, this is not fair at all to the Gusii Nation," said Mr Omari.

In the government of former President Uhuru Kenyatta, Susan Mochache served as Health Principal Secretary and Enosh Momanyi as Physical Planning Principal Secretary.