President William Ruto has executed a sweeping reshuffle within his administration, marked by the appointment of former Narok Governor Samuel Tunai as the new chair of the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) board.....CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE>>>
This move announced via a gazette notice on Friday, August 23, has sent ripples through the political landscape, replacing former Transport Principal Secretary Irungu Nyakera, whose appointment was abruptly revoked, pointing to Ruto’s determination to fortify his leadership with loyal allies.
Tunai, who had previously served as Chief Administrative Secretary in the Ministry of Interior, saw his earlier position nullified when the courts deemed the role unconstitutional. His latest appointment marks a significant comeback, highlighting Ruto’s strategy of placing trusted allies in critical roles, despite the controversies that may arise.
Irungu Nyakera, whose tenure at KEMSA was short-lived, has now been appointed as the Chairman of the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) board.
He succeeds former Makueni Deputy Governor Adelina Mwau, who had taken up the position just over a year ago. Nyakera’s shift from KEMSA to KICC points to the fluid nature of appointments within Ruto’s administration, where roles are reassigned with remarkable frequency.
Farida Karoney, a former Lands Cabinet Secretary, has also been tapped for a new role as Chairperson of the National Lottery Board. Her three-year term signals Ruto’s continued reliance on experienced hands from his previous government. Meanwhile, Prof. Jeremiah Nyabuti has been appointed to the Physical Planners Registration Board, further expanding the circle of familiar faces returning to influential positions.
The changes at KEMSA are particularly noteworthy, given the backdrop of the agency’s recent troubles. Last year, the entire KEMSA board, along with Public Health PS Dr Josephine Mburu and KEMSA CEO Terry Ramadhani, was suspended following a scandal involving a Ksh 4 billion mosquito net supply deal. The scandal had caused a public uproar, leading to widespread calls for accountability and reform within the agency.
Ruto’s decision to appoint Tunai as KEMSA’s Chairman can be seen as a bold move to re-establish control over the troubled organisation. However, it also raises questions about the selection criteria, especially in light of Tunai’s previous position being declared unconstitutional by the courts. The President’s assertion that these appointments are integral to advancing his Bottom-Up Economic Agenda (BETA) appears to be an attempt to frame these decisions within a broader economic strategy.
But the appointments have not been without controversy. Critics argue that Ruto is prioritising loyalty over competence, reappointing figures like Tunai and Nyakera despite their chequered pasts. The inclusion of former Cabinet Secretaries Eliud Owalo and Moses Kuria in significant new roles, just months after their removal from the Cabinet, has further fuelled suspicions of political patronage.
Owalo’s elevation to Deputy Chief of Staff for Performance & Delivery Management is particularly striking. As the former Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communication & Digital Economy, his dismissal from the Cabinet had been unexpected. His new role suggests that Ruto values continuity and loyalty, even if it means recycling former Cabinet members into different positions.
Similarly, Moses Kuria’s reappointment, though not detailed in the gazette notice, signals a continuation of Ruto’s practice of rewarding his allies, irrespective of public opinion. This approach may bolster Ruto’s inner circle but risks alienating segments of the Kenyan public who are already disillusioned by what they perceive as a lack of fresh leadership in the government…CONTINUE READING>>
