Ngilu, Balala back as Uhuru unveils Cabinet

By Standard Digital Reporter

NAIROBI, KENYA: President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy William Ruto have named more Cabinet Secretaries to add to the four announced on Tuesday this week.

Information and Communication Technology, Health, National Treasury, and Foreign Affairs dockets were filled on Tuesday with nominees waiting Parliament approval.

In the Thursday announcement, two politicians who lost in the last general elections made a comeback into the cabinet despite Wednesday’s assurance by the Deputy President that no politician would be nominated into the CabinetSecretary.

Charity Ngilu and Najib Balala who unsuccessfully vied for Kitui and Mombasa County senatorial seats respectively were nominated into the cabinet.

Following the appointments, the head of State said the two will cease to be politicians and serve in the capacity they were nominated to.

Uhuru nominated Balala as the Cabinet secretary for Mining while Charity Ngilu has been proposed to the Lands, Housing and Urban Development docket.

Adan Mohammed who until his appointment was Barclay’s Africa Chief Adminstrative Officer was nominated to the docket of Industrialization and Enterprise Development. Adan comes from Mandera County and has served Barclays in various positions for 15 years.

“Kenya is undergoing true transition, there are several opportunities that need to be harnessed to help empower its people,’ Adan said in his acceptance speech.

Rachael Omamo was nominated to the Defence docket while Michael Kamau previously Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Roads was nominated Cabinet Secretary to the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure.

Rachael Omamo is a lawyer by profession, She is a former first woman chair of Law Society of Kenya, a member of the Truth Justice and Reconciliation Commission task force, and Ambassador to France.

Other nominees included Anne Waiguru (Devolution and Planning), Felix Tarus Kosgey (Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries), Judy Wakhungu (Water and Natural Resources), Hassan Wario (Sports and Culture), and Jacob Kaimenyi (Education).

Chirchir Davis and Phylis Kandie were also nominated as CabinetSecretaries in Energy and Petroleum, and East Africa Affairs and Tourism respectively

In order to ensure smooth transition, Uhuru retained Francis Kimemia as the secretary to the cabinet on interim basis and named Lawrence Lenayapa as Comptroller of State House.

“This is not a full list, two more Cabinet Secretaries will be named soon,” said the President.