New bill to shake up Cabinet

• Wako publishes proposed law which wants number of ministries cut to just 24 and gives the qualifications and job description for ministers

Eighteen ministries are headed for the chop if a proposal to cut the size of the government are accepted by Parliament.

A new government Bill expected to be tabled in Parliament seeks to set the maximum number of ministries at 24, nearly half of the current 42.

In effect, the Bill seeks to limit the power of a president or a prime minister to create ministries to reward allies or for other political interests.

If passed, the Bill will also see MPs who do not have degrees locked out of the Cabinet because it makes advanced education a condition for appointment.

The law as it now exists merely says that the President shall appoint his Cabinet from among MPs; it says nothing about qualifications.

Reduce spending

Many Kenyans who have served in the Cabinet, some quite successfully, did not have degrees.

According to The Offices of Minister Bill 2009 dated June 19, many of the current ministries will merged, reducing government spending on salaries, allowances, security and staff for ministers and permanent secretaries.

Among the major casualties of the proposed law will be the ministries of Medical Services and Public Health, which will be merged into one – Health.

A new giant ministry of Finance, National Planning, Cooperative Development and Regional Authorities will be formed, bringing together three current ministries.

The Labour Ministry will be merged with Immigration while Defence will be joined with Provincial Administration and Internal Security.

Education will be merged with Higher Education to form the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology.

Agriculture is to be expanded to become Agriculture, Fisheries and Livestock Development.

The Bill seeks to “enhance the autonomy of Parliament in performing its oversight role by protecting it from depletion by the Executive through the appointment of an excessive number of ministers”.

Says the new Bill: “The principal objective of the Bill is to fulfill the constitutional obligation imposed on Parliament by section 16 of the Constitution which requires Parliament to establish the offices of Minister of the Government of Kenya so as to define the number of ministries necessary for the transaction of the business of government.”