Uhuru unveils new Cabinet
From left: Amb Raychelle Omamo (Defence), Phyllis Chepkosgey (East African affairs, Commerce and Tourism) and Ann Waiguru (Devolution and Planning) at State House, Nairobi on April 25, 2013. Photos | BILLY MUTAI
What you need to know:
Cabinet nominees:
- Fred Matiang'i (Information, Communication and Technology)
- Henry K. Rotich (The National Treasury)
- James Wainaina Macharia (Health)
- Amb Amina Mohamed (Foreign Affairs)
- Adan Mohammed (Industrialisation)
- Ann Waiguru (Devolution and Planning)
- Davis Chirchir (Energy and Petroleum)
- Amb Raychelle Omamo (Defence)
- Eng Michael Kamau (Transport and Infrastructure)
- Phyllis Chepkosgey (East African affairs, Commerce and Tourism)
- Prof Jacob Kaimenyi (Education)
- Felix Kosgey (Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries)
- Prof Judy Wakhungu (Environment Water and Natural Resources)
- Dr Hassan Wario (Sports, Culture and Arts)
- Najib Balala (Mining)
- Charity Ngilu (Lands, Housing and Urban Development)
- Ministry of Labour, Social Security and Services (Vacant)
- Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government (Vacant)
President Uhuru Kenyatta has announced 12 more nominees for Cabinet positions that included the surprise return of politicians defeated in the just ended general election.
Former Minister Charity Ngilu (Read: Profile) and Najib Balala (Read: Profile) were named as Cabinet Secretary nominees for Lands and Mining respectively.
The list also had the surprise inclusion of Raychelle Awuor Omamo as the nominee for Defence. (READ: Profile: Raychelle Awuor Omamo)
Others are Adan Mohammed (Industrialisation), Ann Waiguru (Devolution and Planning), Davis Chirchir (Energy and Petroleum), Eng Michael Kamau (Transport and Infrastructure) and Phyllis Chepkosgey (East African affairs, Commerce and Tourism).
Prof Jacob Kaimenyi has also been nominated as Cabinet Secretary for Education, Felix Kosgey (Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries), Prof Judy Wakhungu (Environment Water and Natural Resources) and Dr Hassan Wario (Sports, Culture and Arts).
There are now two ministries left vacant; that of Labour, Social Security and Services and the Interior and Coordination of National Government.
To ensure a smooth transition, President Kenyatta also named current Head of Public Service Mr Francis Kimemia as Secretary to Cabinet and former Development of Northern Kenya and other Arid Lands Permanent Secretary Lawrence Lenayapa as State House Comptroller.
Fielding questions from journalists on the nominations, President Kenyatta said the remaining two Cabinet Secretary nominees will be known in due course.
On the nomination of former legislators Ngilu and Balala, the President said the two will have to relinquish all political positions and team up with other Cabinet Secretaries to deliver on the Jubilee government development agenda for the country.
He said the Cabinet nominees reflected diverse faces of the nation and maintained gender parity and regional balance.
