The missing of three prominent figures in President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Cabinet has sparked a debate among Kenyans.
Questions now abound on whether Jubilee loyalists Mwangi Kiunjuri (Devolution), Eugene Wamalwa (Water and Irrigation) and Amina Mohammed (Foreign Affairs) will make a comeback to the Cabinet for a second term.
On Friday, the three Cabinet Secretaries were not named by the President as those who have been retained.
However, Uhuru said he will announce with time others expected to fill the Cabinet which is being expanded to 22.
A Section of Kenyans who spoke to Jamhuri News expressed their optimism in having Amina brought back.
“Ambassador Amina Mohammed has an outstanding track record. She has played a huge role in the Foreign Affairs docket and also having the ICC cases against Uhuru and Ruto suspended. We can’t afford to throw her out,” said Jemima Wangare.
James Mungai added: “In the list of Uhuru’s best performing ministers, Amina is irrefutably one of them. She has worked to a point that Kenya has hosted several world conferences and she has also worked in getting Kenya on the world map. It would be unfair to let her off yet her work speaks volumes of her impeccable track record.”
For Kiunjuri and Wamalwa, besides their performance in their ministries, they have been perceived to have been instrumental in the re-election of President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Kiunjuri for example had to shelve his bid for Laikipia Governorship. Uhuru turned down his request to resign saying that he needed him in government in his second term.
The Devolution CS has also been rumoured to be angling for 2022 DP’s post. However, he has on several occasions side-stepped the 2022 ambition question.
“These two [Kiunjuri and Wamalwa] should be retained. They have worked in their capacities as CSs but also they have made a big contribution in Jubilee by rallying their backyards in Uhuru’s recent re-election,” Martin Kamura averred.
The President retained Dr Fred Matiang’i (Education), Joe Mucheru (ICT), James Macharia (Transport), Najib Balala (Tourism), Charles Keter (Energy) and Henry Rotich (Treasury).
He nominated former Marsabit Governor Ukur Yattani, Director of Public Prosecution Keriako Tobiko and ex-Turkana Senator John Munyes.