Familiar faces within Kenya’s political circles could soon make a re-appearance this time as part of President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Cabinet.
The President and his Deputy William Ruto are reportedly said to be considering adding to their list a number of politicians into their Cabinet.
This will be a conspicuous change from when they first took office in 2013.
Their Cabinet was made up of technocrats with just a few names on it from the political circle but; they were warned about politics in their job.
However, the shortcoming with technocrats in the Cabinet was that government agenda got to the public limelight.
This extended to the Principal Secretaries as well in the ministries forcing the President and his Deputy to re-craft their Cabinet plan.
First, Uhuru brought in experienced political hands in his Cabinet in 2015, a move that boosted his image to the public as far as project implementation by Jubilee regime is concerned.
He brought in Charles Keter (Energy), Mwangi Kiunjuri (Devolution) and Eugene Wamalwa (Water and irrigation).
This was besides Tourism CS Najib Balala who was appointed in 2013.
Following a lengthy and highly competitive political season, the Jubilee duo made promises to give jobs to pro-Jubilee losers in NASA and Jubilee strongholds.
The new faces expected in Uhuru’s appointment include former Meru Governor Peter Munya, former Mombasa Senator Hassan Omar and two former MPs from Busia, Mr Ababu Namwamba (Budalang’i) and Dr Paul Otuoma (Funyula) and Jubilee Party Secretary General Raphael Tuju.
Asked about the appointment of the above, State House Spokesperson Manoah Esipisu said Uhuru will announce in person when time comes.
“When the President is ready, I am sure he will announce; for now, I can’t speculate,” he told Daily Nation.
Current politicians who could be re-appointed include Education CS Dr Fred Matiang’i, Amina Mohamed (Foreign Affairs), James Macharia (Infrastructure and Transport), Joe Mucheru (ICT), Prof Judi Wakhungu (Environment) and Sicily Kariuki (Public Service and Youth Affairs).
Industrialization and Health ministries respectively are on the President’s radar.
In his inauguration speech at Kasarani, he promised job creation for youths which falls under Aden Mohammed’s Industrialization ministry as well as universal health care falling under Cleopa Mailu’s Health docket.
With the heat having not settled completely on the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games debacle, Sports CS Hassan Ali Wario is on the tether, so is her Labour counterpart Phylis Kandie over numerous strikes that have hit the country on several sectors.
Jubilee’s Chief agent in the concluded polls Davis Chirchir is said to be eyeing a top post within government, most likely in State House.
The former Energy CS could be replacing the Head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua who is retiring or Secretary to the Cabinet, a post previously held by Nyandarua Governor Francis Kimemia.