Nairobi News

Former Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero, digital strategist Dennis Itumbi and former Nairobi senatorial candidate Millicent Omanga are among the political bigwigs who have have been nominated by President William Ruto as Chief Administrative Secretaries.

The appointments of 50 persons for the roles of Chief Administrative Secretaries now concludes the formation of his Executive, six months after President Ruto assumed office. In comparison, former President Uhuru Kenyatta had only 29 CASs.

Most of those who have benefited from President Ruto’s appointments are Kenya Kwanza poll losers and backers, as well as politicians who ditched the Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition after Dr Ruto was declared winner of the August 2022 presidential poll.

The Azimio coalition is led by Raila Odinga, who rejected the election result.

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The nominations follow the recommendation of the Public Service Commission. The names have now been forwarded to the National Assembly for consideration and approval, in line with the Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval) Act.

Dr Kidero, who lost to Gladys Wanga in the Homa Bay gubernatorial race last year, has been nominated CAS for the Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry alongside former West Mugirango MP Vincent Kemosi Mogaka and former West Pokot Woman Representative Lilian Tomitom.

Dr Kidero joined the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) on Tuesday, just a night after meeting President Ruto at State House, Nairobi.

Mr Itumbi has been nominated for the ICT ministry while immediate Amani National Congress (ANC) Secretary-General Simon Mwangi Kamau has been nominated for the Digital Economy. Both Mr Itumbi and Mr Kamau seem to be the youngest in President Ruto’s CAS nominees.

Bishop Margaret Wanjiru, who lost to ODM’s Edwin Sifuna in the Nairobi senatorial race, has been nominated CAS for Cooperatives while UDA candidate for Kinangop Parliamentary seat Amos Chege Mugo has been nominated for the Micro, Small, Medium Enterprises Development docket.

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Former Mumias East MP Benjamin Washiali, who last year decided not to defend his seat for the sake of concentrating on campaigning for President Ruto, has been nominated for the Roads docket while former Rarieda MP Nicholas Gumbo, who was floored by James Orengo in the Siaya governor race, was picked for Transport.

Former Narok governor Samuel Tunai, who lost to ODM’s Ledama Olekina in the Senatorial seat, has been picked for the Ministry of Interior and National Administration alongside former nominated Senator Millicent Omanga and former Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Mohamud Ali Saleh.

Former Sabatia MP Alfred Agoi, who vied for Vihiga governor seat and lost to ODM’s Wilberforce Otichilo, has been nominated as Defense CAS, while former Machakos Town MP Victor Munyaka and his Babati counterpart Kimani Ngunjiri have been selected for the Ministry of Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development.

Former Lungalunga MP Khatib Mwashetani and James Kimanthi Mbaluka, who vied for Kibwezi West MP on a UDA ticket, but lost to Maendeleo Chap Chap (MCC) Mwengi Mutuse, have been nominated as CASs in the Ministry of Health.

Wilson Sossion, the former chairman of the Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) was nominated CAS in the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Heritage, alongside Rehema Dida Jaldesa.

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