President William Ruto has made eleventh-hour changes to his cabinet nominations, reassigning key roles just days before the parliamentary vetting process is set to begin.
The National Assembly now faces a tight 28-day deadline to scrutinize and approve candidates for crucial ministerial positions, setting the stage for an intense period of political activity in Nairobi.
On Tuesday, Moses Wetang’ula, Speaker of the National Assembly, formally announced that President Ruto had submitted a list of ten nominees for cabinet secretary positions. This action, taken in accordance with Article 152(2) of the Constitution, marks a critical step in forming the government’s executive branch.
“His Excellency the President conveys that, in exercise of powers conferred on him by Articles 152(2) of the Constitution, as read together with sections 3 and 5 of the Public Appointments (Parliamentary Approval) Act, 2011, he nominates various persons for appointment to the aforementioned offices,” Dr. Wetang’ula stated in his address to parliament.
The most notable changes in the revised list involve a swap between two key figures. Soipan Tuiya, initially nominated for the Environment, Climate Change and Forestry portfolio, has now been reassigned to the crucial Defence ministry. Conversely, Hon. Aden Barre Duale, a veteran politician previously slated for Defence, has been moved to the Environment, Climate Change and Forestry docket.
These last-minute changes, coming just four days after the initial list was presented on July 19, underscore the dynamic and often unpredictable nature of political appointments in Kenya’s evolving governance landscape.
Among the other high-profile nominations, Prof. Kithure Kindiki has been tapped for the critical Interior and National Administration position, while Dr. Debra Mlongo Barasa is set to take on the challenging Health portfolio. The full list of nominees and their designated ministries is as follows:
1. Hon. (Prof.) Kithure Kindiki, EGH – Interior & National Administration
2. Dr. Debra Mlongo Barasa – Health
3. Hon. Alice Wahome, EGH – Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development
4. Mr. Julius Migos Ogamba – Education
5. Hon. Roselinda Soipan Tuiya, EGH – Defence
6. Dr. Andrew Mwihia Karanja – Agriculture and Livestock Development
7. Hon. Aden Barre Duale, EGH – Environment, Climate Change and Forestry
8. Mr. Eric Muriithi Muuga – Water, Sanitation and Irrigation
9. Mr. Davis Chirchir, EGH – Roads and Transport
10. Dr. Margaret Nyambura Ndung’u – Information, Communication and the Digital Economy
The Committee on Appointments now faces the task of vetting these nominees and presenting its findings to the House within the stipulated 28-day period. “The Committee on Appointments is expected to immediately notify the nominees and the general public, commence the necessary approval hearings and table its report in the House soonest,” Wetang’ula emphasized, highlighting the urgency of the process.
Notably, the President did not submit the name of Attorney General nominee Rebecca Miano, whose absence from the list raises questions about the administration’s plans for the key legal advisory position.
