At Sh15.25 Billion, Ruto's Cabinet Nominees are Worth More Than US President Biden and His Cabinet Combined

The National Assembly Appointments Committee on Saturday concluded the vetting of President Ruto’s 24 Cabinet nominees including the Prime Cabinet Secretary, Attorney-General, 22 Cabinet Secretaries and the Secretary to the Cabinet. 

Each of the nominees was required declared their net worth, which was one of the highlights of the vetting process by the 15-member panel chaired by National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula.

Prime Cabinet Secretary nominee Musalia Mudavadi, who put his net worth at Sh4 billion, is the richest followed by Agriculture CS nominee Mithika Linturi at Sh1.2 billion and Cooperative and SMEs nominee Simon Chelugui (Sh993 million).

Cabinet Secretary nominee Prof. Njuguna Ndung’u (Treasury), Aden Duale (Defense), and Moses Kuria (Trade) declared their net worth at Sh950 million, Sh851 million and Sh750 million respectively.

Others are Justin Muturi (Attorney-General) – Sh700 million, Eliud Owalo (ICT) – Sh650 million, Ezekiel Machogu (Education) – Sh590 million, Kipchumba Murkomen (Transport) – Sh550 million, Prof. Kithure Kindiki (Interior) – Sh544 million, Davis Chirchir (Energy) – Sh482 million, Mercy Wanjau (Secretary to cabinet) – Sh475.4 million, Ababu Namwamba (Sports) – Sh425 million, Dr. Alfred Mutua (Foreign and Diaspora Affairs) - Sh420 million, Rebecca Miano (EAC) – Sh397 million, and Peninah Malonza (Tourism) – Sh300 million.

Alice Wahome (Water) put wealth at Sh218 million, Florence Bore (Labour) – Sh200 million, Soipan Tuya (Environment) – Sh156 million, Salim Mvurya (Mining) – Sh120 million, Susan Nakhumicha (Health) – Sh101 million, Aisha Jumwa (Gender) – Sh100 million and Zachariah Njeru (Lands) – Sh80 million.

The Cabinet nominees are worth a combined Sh15.25 billion, which is higher than the cumulative net worth of US President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and their Cabinet members.

President Biden, Harris and their 15 Cabinet members are worth $118 million (Sh14 billion) overall, according to a report published by Forbes last year.

The report placed Biden’s net worth at $8 million (Sh958 million) while that of Kamala Harris was at $7 million (Sh838 million). US Attorney General Merrick Brian Garland and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen have the highest net worth at $20 million (Sh2 billion) followed by Secretary of State Anthony Blinken at $10 million (Sh1.2 billion).