Questions quickly emerge over the fate of three high-flying politicians who missed out on President Uhuru Kenyatta’s second Cabinet.
Despite their allegiance to Uhuru’s Jubilee Party in the run up to October 26 repeat Presidential elections, their names have not made to the list of nominated persons to the Cabinet.
They are former Mombasa Senator Hassan Omar, ex-Kitui Senator David Musila and ex-Funyula MP Dr Paul Otuoma.
The three were deeply rooted in the opposition until after August 8 bungled polls when they made a turnaround and pledged to support Uhuru’s re-election.
Omar served as Wiper’s Secretary General in the run up to August 8 polls. He, however, fell out with the party’s leadership after his political tiff with his competitor for Mombasa Governorship Hassan Joho who went on to clinch the seat on an ODM ticket.
He resigned from Wiper citing double standards practice by the top leadership of the party and unexpectedly, he pledged to support Jubilee Party.
Many quarters felt that the former Human rights activists and an advocate by profession would be slotted in Uhuru’s Cabinet-even on an auxiliary position like that of the Chief Administrative Secretary.
Musila on the hand stirred political waters in Ukambani after resigning as the Wiper Party Chairman ahead of August 8 polls.
He put up a brave fight to run against Narc’s Charity Ngilu who successfully clinched Kitui governorship. But even this did not dampen his spirit of support for Jubilee in the area, especially after nullification of the August 8 polls.
Otuoma stirred political waters after he ditched ODM in April citing botched party primaries which tilted the scales of favour to incumbent Governor Sospeter Ojamong.
In spite of serving as the ODM vice chairman, he blew all that away in the quest to possibly clinch a position in government given that he supported Uhuru’s re-election. But as it stands, this is not forthcoming.
The President on Friday named his full Cabinet where he retained some of the Cabinet Secretaries but moved them to other ministries.
He also brought in fresh blood in his Cabinet.
Among those retained are Fred Matiang’i (Interior), Charles Keter (Energy), Joe Mucheru (ICT), James Macharia (Transport), Amina Mohammed (Education), Rachel Omamo (Defence), Mwangi Kiunjuri (Agriculture and Irrigation), Eugene Wamalwa (Devolution) and Sicily Kariuki (Health).
New Entrants to his Cabinet are as follows:
Prof Maragaret Kobia- Public Service, Gender and Youth Affairs
Peter Munya-EAC and Northern corridor development projects
Farida Karoney- Lands
Monicah Juma-Foreign Affairs
Cecily Kariuki –Health
Simon Chelugui-Water
Rashid Achesa- Sports and Culture
Keriako Tobiko- Environment and Forestry
John Munyes-Petroleum and Mining
Ukur Yattani- Labour and Social Protection
Outgoing CSs were nominated for diplomatic jobs; a move pundits say gives them a soft landing after losing their high profile ministerial jobs.
Ex EAC CS Phylis Kandie was proposed as the Kenya’s Ambassador to Belgium and Luxemburg, ex-Environment CS Prof Judy Wakhungu (France), ex-Mining CS Dan Kazungu (Tanzania), Kiema Kilonzo (Uganda), ex-Lands CS Prof Jacob Kaimenyi (Kenya’s envoy to UNESCO) while ex-Agriculture CS was proposed as the envoy to Kenyan High Commission in India.
Ex-Health CS Cleopa Mailu will be Kenya’s Ambassador to UN, Geneva while former Sports CS Hassan Wario will be Kenya’s Ambassador to Austria.