Ugenya MP David Ochieng has urged the six nominated Cabinet Secretaries who served in the dismissed Cabinet to reject their nominations. During an interview with Citizen TV on Tuesday morning, Ochieng suggested that if these nominees truly want to support President William Ruto, they should decline their positions.
“They should step aside and say, ‘No, if our being in Cabinet is going to cause problems for the president and the country, we stand aside,'” he said.
While praising the nominees as good leaders, Ochieng emphasized that it is time for them to step down from the Cabinet. He questioned President Ruto’s decision to re-nominate members of the Cabinet that he had previously dismissed, wondering what had changed in two weeks to make them now suitable for re-appointment as Cabinet Secretaries.
“The president can’t dismiss the Cabinet and then bring them back two weeks later. What have they done in two weeks that has made them seem capable of helping him now?” he asked.
The six nominees include Rebecca Miano, who was nominated for the position of Attorney General after previously serving as Trade CS in the dismissed Cabinet. Other nominees are Aden Duale and Kithure Kindiki, who retained their Defence and Interior dockets, respectively. Additionally, Alice Wahome (Lands) and Soipan Tuya (Environment) retained their dockets. Davis Chirchir, who previously served as Energy CS, was nominated as Roads and Transport CS.
In a gazette notice dated July 12, Ruto explained that one of the reasons for dismissing the Cabinet was his exercising of the presidential prerogative to continuously review the capacity of his Cabinet members, State Departments, and State Agencies to ensure they deliver on national aspirations.
The President further explained that he was exercising the authority granted to him by Article 131, as read together with Article 132 of the Constitution, which obligates him to promote good governance in the management of public affairs.
President Ruto announced the nominations on Friday, weeks after dissolving his first Cabinet following immense pressure from Gen Z protesters. The Gen Zs, who have been protesting against the government since June 18, had demanded a complete Cabinet overhaul rather than just a reshuffle.
Ruto stated that the decision to re-nominate the six individuals who served in the previous Cabinet was made after extensive consultations.
