Cabinet reshuffle receives praise and criticism in equal measure

Pope Francis (left) flanked by Kenya President Uhuru Kenyatta watches a military parade before boarding his plane to Uganda, on November 27, 2015. President Kenyatta’s shake-up of his government this week has elicited both criticism and praise. PHOTO | SIMON MAINA | AFP

What you need to know:

  • By retaining Treasury CS Henry Rotich, critics say President Kenyatta appears to be shirking questions about the accountability over the whereabouts of the Sh279.3 billion Eurobond cash.
  • The country will also be thrown into two by-elections if Kericho Senator Charles Keter (energy) and Malindi MP Dan Kazungu (mining) get the nod.
  • The appointment of technocrats like Mr Joe Mucheru to head the ICT ministry and Nairobi Hospital boss Cleophas Mailu has been lauded as a plus for the government.

President Uhuru Kenyatta’s shake-up of his government this week has elicited both criticism and praise.

The reshuffle came after an uproar on runaway corruption.

It also followed the formation of a multisectoral agency to draft an anti-corruption strategy.

Ugunja MP and ODM Political Affairs Director Opiyo Wandayi was not impressed by the changes, while Nominated senator Beth Mugo (TNA) and Mukurweini MP Kabando wa Kabando were waxing lyrical about the reshuffle.

Despite the National Youth Service and the Youth Fund docket being hived off from Devolution and Planning to the new ministry, former Laikipia East MP Mwangi Kiunjuri is probably one of the biggest winners.

His post is seen as a reward for agreeing to dissolve his party — the Grand National Union — to join Jubilee Alliance Party.

He certainly has the people skills and networks his predecessor lacked.

By retaining Treasury CS Henry Rotich, critics say President Kenyatta appears to be shirking questions about the accountability over the whereabouts of the Sh279.3 billion Eurobond cash.

The opposition wants Mr Rotich to step aside over this, even though Mr Rotich has offered an explanation on the fate of the money.

The country will also be thrown into two by-elections if Kericho Senator Charles Keter (energy) and Malindi MP Dan Kazungu (mining) get the nod.

In Kericho for instance, a by-election would offer Kanu’s Gideon Moi and Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto a platform to flex their muscles in their perennial jostling for political space in the Rift Valley.

Then there is Prof Jacob Kaimenyi whose tenure in the education ministry saw public school calendar disrupted complete with missed salaries.

A GOOD CHOICE
There was also an unprecedented exam leakage in national examinations.

Mr Wandayi questioned Prof Kaimenyi’s capability to handle the equally demanding Lands ministry.

“People who failed in one docket were thrown to another. We expected complete overhaul of the cabinet,” he said.

The appointment of technocrats like Mr Joe Mucheru to head the ICT ministry and Nairobi Hospital boss Cleophas Mailu has been lauded as a plus for the government.

But critics point out that there were similar expectations when the President appointed his first cabinet in May 2013.

Mr Mucheru’s challenge will be to mend relations between Jubilee and the media, which believes the government is out to emasculate freedom by denying it adverts.

“None of the CSs appointed has the mettle to question anything in government,” former Subukia MP Koigi Wamwere said.

Bomet East MP Bernard Bett, one of DP Ruto’s fiercest defenders, said that the Cabinet appointments showed the increasing need to have politicians in Cabinet.

“Politicians are the people who will have the people’s interest at heart. In fact, we should amend the Constitution to have elected leaders eligible for CSs’ position,” said Mr Bett.

Political commentator Barack Muluka said with the new appointments President Kenyatta “Can choose to let the cabinet sleep and get the flak for it, or stamp his foot on the ground and ask them to shape up or ship out,” he said.

A SMART DECISION

Nominated senator Beth Mugo (TNA) called for the country to support the new appointees.

“This endless criticism before they even start is sickening. Let us support them to deliver first.”

She, however, asked the President to appoint more women to the cabinet to fulfill the two-thirds gender rule. Out of the 20 CSs, only five are women.

Mukurweini MP Kabando wa Kabando said the President had confirmed his “total intolerance to corruption.”

“The President firmly has the moral high ground on anti-corruption fight and there is already panic among the corrupt. They are already fighting those of us who are supporting the President on this war.”

Political scientist Adams Oloo said the President’s decision to make the changes during the Papal visit was strategic.

“He announced the reshuffle, welcomed the Pope and used the visit to rally support and avoid criticism and the scrutiny of his choices for the next three days,” said Dr Oloo.

Kanu Secretary-General Nick Salat told the President to now move to his own office.

“It is sad that it takes a nation to tell the President that his house stinks for him to act. The damage was already done and he needs to show commitment by first dealing with people in his office that he has admitted to be corrupt,” said Mr Salat.