Fresh faces in Cabinet line-up as MPs prepare to vet top job nominees

PHOTO | BILLY MUTAI President Uhuru Kenyatta (Left) with his Deputy William Ruto when they announced the Cabinet at State House, Nairobi on April 25, 2013.

Transport and Infrastructure

Michael Kamau

Born in 1958, Mr Kamau is married with two children. He has been in the Civil Service since 1981. He was seconded to Moi University in Eldoret for seven years between 1990 and 1998.

He holds a BSc in Civil Engineering from the University of Nairobi, MSc in Engineering from the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK.

He has received extensive training in the field of engineering and management locally and internationally. He has been a Permanent Secretary since October, 2007 and a key architect in the infrastructure upgrade in the last 10 years.

Manifesto promises

  • Construct a series of commuter railway networks in Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu, including a link to Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

Ministry of Devolution and Planning

Anne Waiguru

Ms Waiguru has experience in economic and public policy and holds a master’s in Economic Policy from the University of Nairobi, specialising in public finance, financial management systems and public service reform.

She has served as the alternate to the PS, National Treasury in the Public Procurement Oversight Authority Advisory Board, and the Women Enterprise Fund Board.

She is the director, Integrated Financial Management and Information System.

Manifesto promises

  • Draw the line between national and county executive functions, with the intention of devolving the functions constitutionally assigned to county governments.
  • Use the “Rapid Results Approach” to enhance administrative capability in all county executive departments.

Defence

Raychelle Omamo

Daughter of former cabinet Minister William Odongo Omamo, Ms Omamo is a senior counsel.

She was the first woman chairperson of the Law Society of Kenya and first woman ambassador to France, Portugal, The Holy See and the Republic of Serbia as well as a Permanent Delegate to Unesco.

She was a member of the Task Force on the Establishment of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission for Kenya and was Jurist of the Year 2002. Ms Omamo studied Law at the University of Kent at Canterbury.

Manifesto promises

  • Create a new Border Security Force to defend the nation’s borders and provide additional security support to border counties.
  • Provide government funded life insurance cover for disciplined forces personnel.

Foreign Affairs

Amina Mohamed

Before being nominated for the post, Ms Mohamed was Assistant Secretary General at the UN and Deputy Executive Director, Unep.

Prior to joining the UN, she was Justice PS. She recently hit the headlines after announcing that she would be seeking to succeed Pascal Lamy as the director-general of the World Trade Organisation. She is married with two children.

Manifesto promises

  • Redefine foreign policy to establish global trade priorities and pursue robust, reciprocal bilateral and multilateral trade through regional and international trade agreements.
  • Engage traditional economic powers, including US, Great Britain, and other European countries, as well as emerging players such as China, Brazil, India and Russia.

Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries

Felix Kiptarus Koskei

Born in 1964, Mr Koskei joined the University of Nairobi in 1987 and graduated with aBSc in 1990. He did his MBA in Strategic Management in 2003 at the University of Nairobi.

He joined Kenya Posts and Telecommunication Corporation in 1990. In 2007, he joined Kenya Civil Aviation Authority as procurement manager. In 2009, he joined Kenya National Highways Authority and rose to become General Manager, Supply Chain and Support Services.

He is married to Margaret and has four children, one boy and three girls.

Manifesto promises

  • Import tractors and other mechanical equipment and enhance the certified seed and fertilizer subsidy programme.
  • Triple the budgetary allocation to scientific research and information.

Industrialization and Enterprise Development

Adan Mohamed

Mr Mohamed was born December 1963 in Mandera County.

He has worked for Barclays Bank for over 15 years in different parts of the world. He has been the CEO of Barclays Kenya for 10 years. Barclays Group recently promoted him to Chief Administrative Officer with responsibilities for 10 countries in Africa. An MBA graduate from Harvard Business School, Mr Mohamed also a BCom from the University of Nairobi.

Manifesto promises

  • Expand the economy and promote industries to create jobs and business opportunities.
  • Transform the Youth Enterprise Development Fund and Kenya Industrial Estates into a new national enterprise agency — Biashara Kenya.
  • Give tax breaks/holidays to young people to encourage them to initiate start-up businesses.

Health

James Wainaina Macharia

Born in 1959, Mr Macharia graduated with a BCom from the University of Nairobi in 1983.

He is a Certified Public Accountant and holds a master’s in Business Administration. He has previously worked with the Standard Chartered Bank where he rose to head of Transactional Banking and Product Management in charge of East Africa.

He has also worked at the NIC Bank where he rose to the position of Managing Director overseeing its expansion in the region. He is married to a Zambian and has two children, Martin and Sandra.

Manifesto promises

  • Increase health financing from 6 per cent -15 per cent and improve pay for all medical workers.
  • Have a fully equipped health centre within five miles of every home.

The National Treasury

Henry Rotich

Until his nomination, Mr Rotich was the Deputy Director in charge of Economic Affairs at the Ministry of Finance where he worked with President Uhuru Kenyatta.

He has previously worked at the Central Bank as assistant director and also as an economist at the IMF Resident Mission in Nairobi.

Mr Rotich was educated at the Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government where he graduated with a master’s in public administration. He also holds an MA in Economics from the University of Nairobi. He is 44 and married with two sons.

Manifesto promises

  • Build on our successes and promotes private sector enterprise.
  • Production-oriented economic growth that funds a strong safety net for the vulnerable in our society.

Energy and Petroleum

Davis Chirchir

Mr Chirchir previously served as a commissioner at the Interim Independent Electoral Commission. He has also served as the General Manager at Kenya Posts and Telecommunications Corporation. He coordinated the privatisation of Telkom Kenya and establishment of Safaricom.

Mr. Chirchir holds an MBA from Royal Holloway School of Management, University of London and a BSc in Computer Science and Physics from the University of Nairobi.

He is 53 years and married with four children.

Manifesto promises

  • Give low-cost loans for households currently off the grid to buy small renewable power systems.
  • Introduce low-interest five-year loans, paid back as part of electricity bills.

The Environment, Water and Natural Resource

Judy Wakhungu

Prof Wakhungu holds a PhD in Energy Resources Management. She is currently the Executive Director of the African Centre for Technology Studies.
She is also Energy Advisor to the Energy Sector Management Programme of World Bank and Advisor at the Legatum Centre at MIT.

Prof Wakhungu is also a member of the Scientific Advisory Committee of Unesco’s Intergovernmental Management of Social Transformation Programme.

Manifesto promises

  • Protect Kenya’s remaining forests and increase our forest cover to 10 per cent over the next 20 years.
  • Provide incentives and commercialise tree planting to meet the energy needs.

Sports, Culture and the Arts

Hassan Wario Arero

Born in 1970, Dr Arero hails from Moyale District of Marsabit County.

He joined the University of Nairobi’s Institute of African Studies in 1990 and graduated in 1995 with a BA in Anthropology.

In 1997, Dr Wario won the Chevening Scholarship to study for an MA at the University of East Anglia in UK. He did his PhD in Anthropology at the same university. Dr Wario joined the National Museums of Kenya in 1995. He previously worked for the British Museums for eight years. He is married with two children.

Manifesto promises

  • Establish a National Lottery Schemeto fund local sporting leagues.
  • Pursue tax incentives for individual and private sector investors in sports, arts and entertainment sectors.

Commerce and Tourism

Phyllis Jepkosgei Kandie

Ms Kandie was born in Eldama Ravine, Baringo county 48 years ago.

In 1986, she joined St Mary’s University, Canada where she graduated with a BCom. She then proceeded to Middlesex University in 1991 and Durham University for her MBA and further training.

She is an investment banker and is the Director, Investment Advisory Services at Standard Investment Bank. She has also served as a regulator within the Capital Markets, energy and agricultural sector. She is married with two children.

Manifesto promises

  • Promote Kenya as an end destination to double the number of tourists to three million a year.
  • Provide incentives to encourage investment in tourist accommodation.

Education

Jacob Kaimenyi

Born in 1952, Prof Kaimenyi holds a PhD in Dentistry from the University of Nairobi. He is currently the Deputy Vice-Chancellor in charge of Academic Affairs at the University of Nairobi and a member of the Medical Practitioners and Dentists Board.

He has previously held several key positions including President of the Commonwealth Dental Association and head of the National Dental Unit at the Kenyatta National Hospital.

He is married with five children.

Manifesto promises

  • Work with international partners to provide solar powered lap-top computers.
  • Increase education funding by one per cent each year so that by 2018 it reaches 32 per cent of government spending.

Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government

Secretary not yet named.

Manifesto promises

  • Buy more vehicles and equipment for the police so each ward has two vehicles.
  • Incorporate CCTV technology in the fight against crime.

Labour, Social Security and Services

Secretary not yet named.

Manifesto promises

  • Create a legislative framework for cash transfers for the needy administered by county governments.

Mining

Najib Balala

The former Tourism Minister played a key role in popularising Mr Kenyatta’s presidential campaign in Mombasa against a Cord wave. He paid the price by losing his bid to become the county’s first senator to Wiper’s Hassan Omar.

Mr Balala is the man Mr Kenyatta bestowed upon the task of articulating his blueprint on tourism during the launch of the Jubilee’s manifesto.

He did a leadership course at JF Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, as well as a course in Urban Management at the University of Toronto.

Manifesto promises

  • Encourage the private sector to participate in extraction and processing of the country’s natural resources while ensuring that Kenyans benefit fully from these resources to improve living standards.

Land, Housing and Urban Development

Charity Ngilu

Ms Ngilu led President Uhuru Kenyatta’s presidential campaign in Ukambani ahead against a Cord wave in the region, eventually losing her bid to become Kitui senator.

She was one of the longest serving politicians in the 10th Parliament, having joined the House in 1992. She unsuccessfully ran for president in 1997. She has previously held the Health and Water ministerial dockets under retired President Kibaki.

Born in 1952, she holds a BA in Leadership and Management.

Manifesto promises

  • Immediately embark on adjudication and titling of community land.
  • Give communities, rather than the National Land Commission, the titles to Community-held land.

Information, Communication and Technology (ICT)

Fred Matiang’i

Dr Matiangi is one of the world’s foremost experts on the Kenyan Legislature. He has more than 12 years experience in democratic development, the last six years of which have been with the Kenya Parliamentary Strengthening Project.

Prior to joining the project, he taught at the University of Nairobi. He holds a doctorate in Comparative Literature from the University of Nairobi, a master’s in English from the University of Nairobi, and a BEd from Kenyatta University.

He was born in Borabu and is married with two children.

Manifesto promises

  • Expand the fibre optic network to cover hospitals, schools, and police stations and progressively roll out free WI-FI in major towns within the next five years.