Kenya’s president names new cabinet

Kenyan President William Ruto on Tuesday named his nominees to the Cabinet to help steer the country after the 9 August general election.

Mr Ruto has retained Mr Simon Chelugui giving him the ministry of Co-operatives and Small Enterprises Development. The president nominated current and former lawmakers to the cabinet.

He appointed former Central Bank of Kenya Governor Njuguna Ndung’u to be the cabinet secretary for the National Treasury. The president appointed Mr Musalia Mudavadi as the prime cabinet secretary, a newly created position. He said the prime cabinet secretary’s office is the most senior after that of the president and deputy president’s office.

Mr Ruto told a televised news conference in Nairobi that the prime cabinet secretary will assist the deputy president and the president in liaison with the interior ministry. “He will oversee the government projects,” the president said. “He will coordinate the national legislative agenda.”

The president also appointed former Machakos County Governor Alfred Mutua to be the cabinet secretary for Foreign Affairs. Prof Kithure Kindiki, former Senate deputy speaker, is the cabinet secretary for Interior and National Administration.

The National Assembly will vet the nominees  

Mr Ruto appointed 22 cabinet secretaries. According to the Constitution, Kenya’s Cabinet should contain no fewer than 14 but no more than 22 cabinet secretaries.

The president also appointed former National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi as the Attorney General, and Mercy Wanjau as secretary to the Cabinet. Mr Ruto appointed Ms Monica Juma as National Security adviser. She was the cabinet secretary for Energy in the previous government.

The president also announced the resignation of Inspector-General of Police Hilary Mutyambai. He said Mr Mutyambai will go on terminal leave. “After discussing with Mutyambai, I have accepted his terminal leave,” Ruto said.

Mr Ruto said the head of Directorate of Criminal Investigations George Kinoti had resigned. He said Mr Kinoti had formally resigned. Mr Kinoti served as the country’s top detective under former President Uhuru Kenyatta.

The president said he would pick someone to act in the place of Mr Kinoti as his replacement awaits.

(Reporting with Xinhua)