Disquiet over Uhuru-Ruto Cabinet line-up

By EMEKA-MAYAKA GEKARA, Posted  Saturday, April 27   2013 at  23:30

The memorable expression “choices have consequences” is taking on a new meaning in town.

It was used by former US assistant secretary for African Affairs Johnnie Carson who in a statement before the March 4 General Election warned of consequences in the choice of Jubilee leaders Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto because of their cases before the International Criminal Court.

Now the three words are being used to remind sections of the Kenyan population who feel left out by President Kenyatta’s government through its nominations last week of Cabinet secretaries to accept the reality.

Those being so advised are regions that backed former Prime Minister Raila Odinga of the Cord coalition for president.

There has been concern over the nominees — both inside and outside the Jubilee Coalition — with accusations that President Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto assigned a large proportion of the slots in the 18-member Cabinet to members of their own communities.

There is also considerable anger by lieutenants of the two politicians who accuse the leaders of abandoning them in favour of individuals who played no known role in the campaigns.

“We are all professionals with track records who invested our energy, money and reputations to ensure these two gentlemen are elected,” said a former TNA campaigner.

Two key members of Mr Kenyatta’s campaign who requested that their names not be disclosed for fear of antagonising him, also spoke of an emerging concern that the President was “giving away too much” to Mr Ruto.

President Kenyatta and Mr Ruto are operating under a 50-50 power sharing agreement.

And with this comes the challenge that their choices must meet constitutional principles of regional diversity, gender balance, equity and meritocracy.

The Kenyatta supporters argue that whereas he had attempted to share his 50 per cent stake with the rest of the country, Mr Ruto has come out as only keen to reward his Kalenjin nation. 

Mr Charles Nyachae, the chairman of the Constitutional Implementation Commission, says MPs must ensure that the nominees meet standards of integrity as set out in Chapter Six and Article 10 of the Constitution.

He said the vetting by Parliament is probably the most important stage of the process as it involves public participation to ensure that constitutional principles guiding the process are met.

On regional balance, questions have been raised over the nomination of Mr Michael Kamau (Transport), Ms Ann Waiguru (Devolution), Mr James Wainaina (Health) as well as the Secretary to the Cabinet Francis Kimemia who come from the President’s Kikuyu community.

Attorney-General Githu Muigai, who has been retained, Chief of the Defence Forces Julius Karangi, Intelligence chief Michael Gichangi and CID Director Ndegwa Muhoro also come from the Mt Kenya region.

On the other hand, Mr Ruto picked Mr Davis Chirchir (Energy), Mr Henry Rotich (Treasury), Mr Felix Kiptarus Koskei (Agriculture) and Ms Phyllis Kandie (Tourism) from the Kalenjin community in the Rift Valley.

“We are faced with a situation where two communities will control more than 60 per cent of national decision-making. To which country do the rest of the communities belong?” asked university lecturer Hebert Kerre. In a television interview on Friday night, Mr Ruto defended the nominees.

However, leaders from the Maasai, Turkana, Pokot and Mijikenda communities have accused President Kenyatta of locking them out of his Cabinet.Other Cabinet Secretary nominees include Dr Fred Matiang’I (ICT-Nyamira), Ms Rachael Omamo (Defence-Siaya),  Mandera-born Adan Mohammed (Industrialisation), Prof Judy Wakhungu (Environment, Bungoma), Mrs Charity Ngilu (Lands, Kitui), Mr Najib Balala (Mining, Mombasa) and Ms Amina Mohammed (Foreign Affairs)
.