PRESIDENT Uhuru Kenyatta is reportedly preparing to appoint former Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi as the Cabinet Secretary in charge of Devolution. Yesterday the Star reported that the number of ministries will be increased from 18 to 20.
Uhuru and Deputy President William Ruto want to split both Anne Waiguru’s Devolution and Planning Ministry and Joseph Ole Lenku’s Interior and Co-ordination ministry into two.
Now it appears that Mudavadi will take Devolution while Ann Waiguru who will take up a new role as the Cabinet Secretary for Interior and Planning, according to multiple sources within the Presidency.
Interior and National Coordination CS Joseph Ole Lenku will move to a new ministry to be called Ministry of Gender and Youth Affairs.
Currently Lenku is responsible for co-coordinating government, regular police formations immigration, prisons and refugees departments.
Lenku has been frequently criticised especially during the Westgate attack in September when he repeatedly contradicted himself and gave inconsistent statements.
“The original suggestion, especially from the Deputy President, was that Lenku be given the Tourism docket due to his experience and background. The two principals also agreed that Waiguru’s ministry has too much,” a source within the Presidency said.
Waiguru presently has more than 20 departments under her including Special Programmes, Devolution, Planning, Public Service, Gender, Youth and Uwezo Fund.
Uhuru and Ruto are also looking at the possibility of another two ministries, one of which will most be headed by a woman.
The other ministry is provisionally reserved for either former Speaker Kenneth Marende or former assistant minister Peter Kenneth.
“The Constitution allows for up to 22 Cabinet Secretaries and we will not be surprised when we hear of four appointments,” another State House source said.
It is still unclear what the new ministries will be called but sources said that the announcement could be made on Thursday or Friday when Ruto returns from The Hague.
Recently the President warned his Cabinet that the “honeymoon” was over and gave them a one-year ultimatum to perform or get fired.
However some ministers may be out of office even sooner as Uhuru and Ruto are planning to appraise them by April when they mark their first anniversary in power.
“It is becoming clear that some of the Cabinet Secretaries are not implementing the Jubilee manifesto as required. There are other who are been suspected to engaging in underhand dealings within government. The President has said he will not tolerate this and some ministers may just get fired,” said another source in the Presidency.
– the-star.co.ke
