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Kenya's Parliament has officially approved President William Ruto's nominees for three critical Cabinet Secretary positions.
The appointments have sparked caution from lawmakers, who have expressed concerns about potential regional favouritism, particularly toward the Mt Kenya area. The committee on appointments, chaired by National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula, has endorsed the appointments.
William Kabogo will assume the Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communications, and the Digital Economy; Lee Kinyanjui will head the Ministry of Investments, Trade, and Industry; and Mutahi Kagwe will oversee Agriculture and Livestock Development. Despite facing public opposition, the committee's report—rooted in constitutional and legislative frameworks—recommended proceeding with the nominations.
Out of 16 public submissions challenging the qualifications of the nominees, only two were deemed legally valid for consideration. Eliud Karanja Matindi had raised concerns regarding the appointments' potential to unsettle the constitutional balance in terms of gender, regional, and ethnic representation, as well as the inclusion of individuals with disabilities.
Additionally, Joseph Enock Aura submitted an affidavit highlighting deficiencies in Mutahi Kagwe's prior administrative performance. The affidavit cited an auditor general's report that noted the lack of a fixed asset register and logbooks for 222 vehicles during his tenure. Aura's efforts to cross-examine Kagwe during the vetting process were denied.
He accused Kagwe of mismanagement of public funds, particularly a Sh300 million expenditure on unverified vaccines. Kagwe refuted these allegations, providing a written response to the committee. The parliamentary consent paves the way for the official appointment of the nominees via a gazette notice.
Political observers consider this development a strategic effort by President Ruto to rebuild support in the Mt Kenya region, particularly in the wake of the impeachment of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. During the report's debate, lawmakers underscored the significance of the nominees' commitment to serving the entire nation, rather than succumbing to regional biases.