10 Kenyan Leaders Who Rejected Ruto’s Appointments in the Last 1 Year

Since assuming office, President William Ruto has made several key state appointments. However, in the past year, the country was stunned when several prominent figures rejected the plum government jobs he offered them.

This unexpected turn of events has sparked widespread debate over the reasons behind the rejections and the implications for the government.

Kenyans.co.ke, in this article, revisits some of the people who rejected President Ruto’s appointments.

Henry Rotich 

Former Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich, in February 2024, turned down Ruto’s job offer as the Senior Advisor on Fiscal Affairs and Budget Policy at the State House. 

Reports quoting the former CS revealed that he expressed a preference for pursuing a position at the Central Bank of Kenya, which falls under the Ministry of Treasury, where he had previously held a post. He worked at the Central Bank of Kenya for 12 years between 1994 and 2006 as the Assistant Director of Economic Affairs.

Faith Odhiambo

In the wake of the anti-finance bill demonstrations, President Ruto established a Presidential Taskforce on Forensic Audit of Public Debt. In a gazette notice dated July 5, the task force was mandated to scrutinise Kenya’s debt management practices and ensure transparency and accountability in public finances.

Law Society of Kenya President Faith Odhiambo was among the appointees, only for her to reject the appointment to the task force, leaving a spat on the appointing authority. 

However, she later explained her reasons for declining the appointment. In an interview with Ramogi TV on Saturday, December 21, the lawyer clarified that the appointment violated the law, as there was no constitutional provision for the task force in question.

”We were going to enter into a job that we could not handle because even in the letter that we wrote to the president, we explained that such a task force would prompt opposition from Kenyans,” Odhiambo stated.

”I do not want to be in a task force where I will be doing someone else’s work at the same time there is nothing meaningful that we would have done,” she added.

Rebecca Miano

Rebecca Miano, Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Tourism, rejected President Ruto’s appointment to the Office of the Attorney General (AG) after she was appointed by the President in July last year. 

She further asked the President to instead allow her to handle lighter duties, indicating that the position of the AG was professionally demanding. 

Millicent Omanga

October seemed to have been the month when the government suffered a huge setback in its appointments, with at least two politicians rejecting state jobs. Former nominated Senator Millicent Omanga was among them.

Omanga declined Ruto’s appointment to serve in the Nairobi Rivers Commission as a member.

In a statement on social media, Omanga expressed her gratitude for the appointment but stated that she would be declining the honour for what she called personal reasons.

”I’m deeply honoured and grateful to H.E. Williams Ruto for the trust you’ve shown in appointing me to serve on the Nairobi Rivers Commission. It’s truly a privilege to be considered for such a vital role in improving our beloved Nairobi’s environment and public health. After careful consideration, I must respectfully decline the appointment due to personal reasons,” Omanga wrote.

However, in January this year, Defence CS Soipan Tuya appointed Omanga to be a member of the Board of Directors of Kenya Shipyards Limited.

Victor Munyaka 

The former Machakos Member of Parliament Victor Munyaka in October last year, rejected President Ruto’s appointment as the chairperson of the Kenya Animal Genetic Resource Centre.

According to the former lawmaker, he revealed had only learnt of the appointment via a Gazette notice published on Friday, October 3, 2024. The former lawmaker intimated that he rejected the appointment following the political tension that was then rocking the country.

”I have learnt of my appointment by His Excellency, President William Ruto as the chairman of the Kenya Animal Genetic Resource Centre through a Kenya Gazette notice dated October 3, 2024,” he shared.

He added that it was from the tense political situations that he was informed that the government could not realise its economic transformation agenda noting that for that reason, he was rejecting the appointment.

Margaret Ndung’u

Former Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communication, and Technology (ICT) Margaret Ndung’u declined Ruto’s ambassadorial nomination.

The CS, in a letter to the Parliamentary Committee for Defence and Foreign Relations on Thursday, January 9, declined her nomination for the High Commissioner job in Ghana, attributing it to personal reasons.

On December 19, last year, Ndung’u was displaced as ICT CS after serving for only three months with William Kabogo named as her replacement. It was after her demotion from the CS position that the Head of State nominated her for the High Commissioner role alongside other former government officials. 

“Pursuant to Section 16 of the Public Appointment, Parliamentary Approval Act 3 of 2011, I wish to inform you that I will not appear before the said committee a the time and venue specified for the approval hearing,” Ndung’u wrote. 

However many loyalists and allies of Ruto faulted her for rejecting the appointment. 

Hussein Tene Debasso

Debasso declined his appointment to the National Youth Service (NYS) Council shortly after being dismissed by President Ruto as the chairperson of the Kenya National Trading Corporation (KNTC) board.

In a statement declining the appointment to NYS, Hussein expressed his gratitude for the appointment, which was made public through a Gazette Notice on October 15, 2024. He, however, cited personal reasons for his decision to decline the position.

“I Hussein Tene Debasso, immediate chairman, Kenya National Trading Corporation, wish to thankfully acknowledge my appointment as member of the Board, National Youth Service via Gazette Notice of 15th October 2024,” Debaso stated. 

“Owing to personal reasons, I have written to the President of the Republic of Kenya declining the appointment.”

Timothy Bosire 

Orange Democratic Movement(ODM) National Treasurer Timothy Bosire declined Ruto’s appointment as the non-executive chair of the National Transport and Safety Authority(NTSA) board.

Bosire in an interview with Star revealed he had rejected the appointment after consultation about community interests.

”I nevertheless, thank the appointing authority, HE President William Ruto for the appointment but in the circumstances decline the opportunity,” Bosire stated.

”As a leader, I took time to consult and listen to the wishes and interests of the larger community. I concluded that fairness has not been served.”

Justina Wamaye

Vincent Kemosi

In April same year, Gusii land politician Vincent Mogaka Kemosi revealed that he would not be accepting his nomination as Kenya’s High Commissioner to Accra, Ghana.

Kemosi was supposed to be vetted by Parliament following the appointment days later, only for him to write to the Clerk of the National Assembly revealing that he was declining the position. 

In his letter, the former Member of Parliament for West Mugirango cited family issues as the reason for turning down the assignment. 

“I want to give my appreciation for the invitation to appear before the Departmental Committee on Defence Intelligence and Foreign Relations, I wish to inform that I will not appear before the said Committee for the approval,” his letter read in part.