President William Ruto on Thursday nominated Sports CS Kipchumba Murkomen as Interior CS while carrying out a major reshuffle in the senior ranks of the Executive.
In the announcement made public by State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohammed on Thursday, Ruto nominated the current Sports CS to replace former CS of Interior Kithure Kindiki who ascended to serve as the country’s deputy president.
“His Excellency the President has today made nominations, re-assignments and appointments to the senior ranks of the Executive. The nominations effected are in regard to individuals to serve the Nation in its foremost policy organ – Cabinet – as well as in the Foreign Service,” read the notice in part.
Murkomen will take over the Ministry of Interior from the Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi who has been holding the office in acting capacity since Kindiki vacated.
Kipchumba Murkomen during a meeting on Thursday, September 3, 2024. PHOTO/Kipchumba Murkomen
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Similarly, former Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe is expected to make a comeback he was nominated to fill the position of the CS for the Ministry for Agriculture and Livestock Development. If approved, Kagwe will be taking over from Dr Andrew Karanja who is the current Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary.
Former Kiambu Governor William Kabogo was also nominated to the position of CS to the Ministry of Information, Communication and the Digital Economy and is set to replace Margaret Nyambura Ndung’u, who is the current Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy.
Another winner in Ruto’s Cabinet shake-up was former Nakuru Governor Lee Kinyanjui who was nominated to fill the position of Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry. He is poised to take over from Salim Mvurya whom the President has reassigned to the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports.
The Ministry of Interior is a powerful docket that is often allocated to close allies of the sitting president because it is tasked with maintaining internal security and overseeing national registration services among other key responsibilities.
In Kenya, the Ministry has a significant history that reflects the country’s political evolution and administrative needs since its establishment. Appointments to the office are taken seriously as it points to the political tone of the country.
Murkomen’s former docket of Sports is set to be taken over by Salim Mvurya who is the current CS of the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry.
The process of appointing a new cabinet secretary involves several steps including the nomination of names by the president, who in turn will forward the names for vetting by the National Assembly’s Committee on Appointments.
This committee assesses the suitability of nominees based on their qualifications and knowledge relevant to the portfolio they are nominated for.
“His Excellency the President has transmitted the nominations of Cabinet Secretaries, High Commissioners, Ambassadors, and Permanent Representatives to the National Assembly for consideration and approval by Parliament in fulfilment of the legal requirements set out under our nation’s supreme law,” added the statement.
The shake-up is seen as a way for Ruto to appease his political allies and cement loyalty to his administration. In the recent past, the President has advocated for forming a broad-based government that includes people from all the regions of the country.
President William Ruto delivers an address during the 11th National and County Governments Coordinating Summit at State House Nairobi, on Monday, December 16, 2024.
PCS