Gideon says Uhuru can have his pick to Cabinet

By Rushdie Oudia

VIHIGA, KENYA: Baringo Senator Gideon Moi has said President Uhuru Kenyatta has the prerogative of choosing whomever he wishes to the Cabinet.

Gideon was reacting to complaints from Western leaders that President Uhuru had failed to appoint one of them to the Cabinet.

“The President has the right to choose anyone and you should accept and work with the nominees,” said the Senator. He spoke during the homecoming of Vihiga Senator George Khaniri at Ebusakami Secondary School in Vihiga on Saturday.

Mr Khaniri said the Jubilee Government had given Western region a raw deal.  “We hope the remaining two seats will go to Western. That will make us trust that Uhuru is reaching out to the whole country,” he said. On Thursday, Uhuru gave names of 16 nominees to the Cabinet, with Western region getting only one slot in Prof Judy Wakhungu.

Vihiga Governor Moses Akaranga said they must feel part of the Government and the President should give the region a Cabinet post as a way of reconciliation. Deputy Governor Caleb Amaswache said one of the remaining Cabinet slots should be given to former Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi.

He said Mr Mudavadi went through a lot of humiliation and that is the best way for Uhuru to reward him. Gideon urged the Luhya community to remain united if they wish to clinch the presidency. “When you people are united all your votes will be in one basket just like the other communities have always done,” he said, adding it was the way for them to get presidency in 2017.