19 Cabinet Secretaries sworn in

President William Ruto has presided over the swearing-in of 19 Cabinet Secretaries at State House, Nairobi.

The ceremony followed approval by the National Assembly and the subsequent gazettement of their appointments on Wednesday.

Interior CS Kithure Kindiki was the first to take the oath of office, followed by Defence CS Soipan Tuya, John Mbadi (National Treasury), Justin Muturi (Public Service), and Aden Duale (Environment, Climate Change, and Forestry).

Others who took the oath of office included Lands CS Alice Wahome, Julius Ogamba (Education), Davis Chirchir (Transport), Rebecca Miano (Tourism and Wildlife), Hassan Joho (Mining), Alfred Mutua (Labour), Eric Muuga (Water), Salim Mvurya (Investment, Trade, and Industry), Debra Barasa (Health), Kipchumba Murkomen (Youth Affairs and Sports), Andrew Karanja (Agriculture), Salim Mvurya (Trade), Julius Ogamba (Education) and Margaret Nyambura (ICT). 

Yesterday, the National Assembly Committee on Appointments rejected the nomination of Stella Soi Lang’at to the Cabinet.

The committee stated that Soi did not demonstrate an adequate understanding of the Gender docket, and her experience in public service had been marked by frequent job transitions.

"This lady (Stella Soi) is a career civil servant with extensive experience in public service. However, she did not demonstrate adequate understanding of the docket to which she had been nominated, and the committee found her unsuitable for appointment to that docket," said Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah.

President Ruto dismissed his previous cabinet on July 11 to pave the way for a ‘broad-based government.’ The move followed weeks of anti-government protests.

Surprisingly, he unveiled 10 of his former Cabinet Secretaries in his new Cabinet and ceded four cabinet slots to the Opposition in an attempt to win their support.