Ruto team spared axe in reshuffle

Higher Education minister William Ruto and other key campaigners against the new Constitution were spared in Monday’s Cabinet reshuffle.

In the changes announced by President Kibaki in consultation with Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Mr Ruto retained his position as Higher Education minister. So did Information and Communications minister Samuel Poghisio.

No minister in the ‘No’ campaign was dropped from the Cabinet.

However, Dr Naomi Shaban was moved from the Ministry of State for Special Programmes in the Office of the President to the Ministry of Gender, swapping with Ms Esther Murugi.

And the fate of Environment assistant minister Jackson Kiptanui, who was among MPs who campaigned against the new Constitution, was not clear by Monday evening.

Eldoret East MP Margaret Kamar was appointed an assistant minister in the Environment Ministry, but it was not clarified whether she replaced Mr Kiptanui.

Mr Ramadhan Kajembe, MP for Changamwe, is the other assistant minister for Environment.

Mr Kiptanui said he was not aware that he had been dropped.

“I have not been told anything. We are two assistant ministers and if another has been appointed maybe I have been sacked because I campaigned against the new Constitution.”

Return of Mwakwere

The reshuffle also saw the return of Matuga MP Chirau Ali Mwakwere.

The former Transport minister bounced back as the minister for Trade in changes affecting six ministers and two assistant ministers.

Mr Mwakwere returns to the Cabinet after nearly a five-month absence following a successful petition against his election in 2007.

However, following a subsequent by-election, Mr Mwakwere recaptured his seat after beating ODM’s Hassan Mwanyoha.

Mr Mwakwere moves to the Trade ministry, trading places with Mr Amos Kimunya who has been holding the Transport docket in an acting capacity.

Mr Amason Kingi moves from East African Community to the Ministry of Fisheries Development. His docket was taken by Prof Hellen Sambili who crossed over from the Ministry of Youth and Sports, which was given to Dr Paul Otuoma, formerly at Fisheries.

Trade docket

Another new assistant minister is Simon Ogari, the MP for Bomachoge, who was appointed to the Trade docket, a position that was vacant since Mr Omingo Magara lost his South Mugirango parliamentary seat.

The changes take effect immediately.

In the last reshuffle, Mr Ruto was moved from the Ministry of Agriculture to Higher Education, trading places with Dr Sally Kosgei.

Since the August 4 referendum on the new Constitution, which the ‘Yes’ side won, there have been calls for ministers who campaigned against it to be sacked.

The ODM party leadership last week called for disciplinary action against party officials who led the ‘No’ campaigns.

However, Mr Odinga played down the recommendations, calling for all leaders to work together to implement the new Constitution.