Wamalwa back in Cabinet as Uhuru sacks Kimemia

President Uhuru Kenyatta Friday brought back former Saboti MP Eugene Wamalwa to the Cabinet as he sacked a powerful Kibaki-era civil servant in a mini-reshuffle.

He also sought to add steel to his team in charge of Internal security by nominating Immigration Director Gordon Kihalangwa, a retired Major General, as Interior Affairs and Coordination of National Government PS.

Dr Monica Juma, who was at Interior Affairs, is now Secretary to the Cabinet, replacing Mr Francis Kimemia.

The president also poached Mr Nzioka Waita from mobile phone service provider Safaricom Ltd to head the newly established Service Delivery unit in the Office of the President.

In a statement, he said: “As part of the continued alignment of functions in my administration and in order to enhance service delivery, I have today made changes in government.”

Coming two years after he took over power, President Kenyatta appeared to be sending a political statement in his nomination of Mr Wamalwa, the New Ford Kenya leader at the same time as he picked experience and knowledge in handling the runaway insecurity in the country.

In nominating Dr Juma as Secretary to the Cabinet, he quietly sent home the holder of the position, Mr Francis Kimemia who was a powerful civil servant in the Kibaki administration. Mr Kimemia is among Cabinet Secretaries, PSs, and parastatal heads who have been suspended by the President over allegations of corruption.

The reshuffle, it is understood, will be followed by a major shake-up in state corporations with the President setting his eyes on retaining his seat in the next elections through delivery of service and growing the economy.

INCREASED MINISTRIES

Friday’s mini-reshuffle means that the Jubilee administration has increased the number of ministries from 18 to 19 since Mr Wamalwa will head a new docket of Water and Irrigation Services. It was carved out of the giant ministry of the Environment, Water and Natural Resources headed by Prof Judi Wakhungu.

It also takes a department of irrigation from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, headed by Mr Felix Koskei who is also suspended over corruption allegations.

President Kenyatta explained his decision, arguing that the docket of water required specific attention to help trigger development of agriculture.

“Cognisant of the need to focus attention on water as a driver of agricultural development, I have created the ministry of Water and Irrigation Services. I have nominated Mr Eugene Wamalwa as Cabinet Secretary,” he said.

Mr Wamalwa’s nomination has political significance, in the sense that the former Justice and Constitutional Affairs minister will be dangled to the Luhya as a member of the Cabinet. They have been pushing for appointment of their leaders to government.

This was evident two weeks ago when Deputy President William Ruto gave an assurance, while in Kakamega, that Mr Wamalwa’s position had already been agreed upon. It is also significant that Mr Wamalwa is a member of the Amani Coalition headed by Mr Musalia Mudavadi.

In moving Maj Gen (Rtd) Kihalangwa to Interior Affairs, the President was seeking to inject military experience in the fight against escalating insecurity caused by terrorism and banditry.

Early in the year, President Kenyatta appointed Maj Gen (Rtd) Joseph Nkaissery as Interior Affairs CS in place of Mr Joseph ole Lenku, a former hotelier.

Sources at the Immigration docket said Maj Gen (Rtd) Kihalangwa has effected wide ranging reforms, kicking out corrupt officers and demanding delivery of service.