Profile of 4 Raila’s men set to join Ruto cabinet

President William Ruto has announced his second batch of cabinet appointments, nominating several close allies of opposition leader Raila Odinga, who heads the Azimio coalition, to key ministerial positions. 

This move has been seen as a potential gesture of political reconciliation or strategic realignment in the country's governance. The changes were made despite Raila and his ODM outfit insisting that they were not interested in a power-sharing formula. 

John Mbadi 

Among the nominees is John Mbadi, a key figure within the Azimio coalition who has been nominated as the Cabinet Secretary for Treasury and Economic Planning.

Mbadi, a former minority leader and currently a nominated Member of Parliament, did not contest the 2022 General Election, with the Azimio coalition promising him a position in government if they were victorious.

Despite not holding an elected position, Mbadi has maintained a significant presence in the political scene, particularly through his role as a nominated MP and ODM chairman.

His nomination to the Cabinet comes after a period of contention within the ODM ranks, where he expressed dissatisfaction over being overlooked for the Minority Leader position in Parliament, a role that eventually was assigned to Opiyo Wandayi after the August 2022 general election.

Mbadi is also an accountant by profession and has been vocal against the fiscal policies of the Ruto regime, including the last two controversial Finance Bills.

A past Public Accounts Committee chaired by John Mbadi. (Photo: National Assembly)

Opiyo Wandayi

Wandayi, the current National Assembly's Minority Leader, was nominated to serve as the Cabinet Secretary for Energy and Petroleum.

If approved by Parliament, he will succeed Davis Chirchir, who transferred to the Transport and Roads docket, previously held by Kipchumba Murkomen. Murkomen was nominated as Sports CS instead. 

Wandayi is serving his third term in Parliament, having first been elected in 2013 on the ODM ticket. 

Ugunja constituency, which Wandayi represents, was hived off from the Ugenya constituency, making it the sixth constituency in Siaya County. Once Wandayi is appointed to the Cabinet, the electoral commission will declare a vacancy in the Ugunja parliamentary seat, paving the way for a by-election. 

Wandayi, born on June 22, 1972, has a background in agriculture and business management. He pursued a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture at the University of Nairobi. In 2008, he joined the Kenya Institute of Management (KIM) for a diploma course in Business Management.

In 2010, he enrolled at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) for an MBA executive programme and is currently pursuing a Bachelor in Law at Daystar University.

Wandayi has been a vocal lawmaker and a key figure in the opposition, known for his loyalty to Raila Odinga. His political career includes a notable incident where he was ejected from Parliament after disrupting retired President Uhuru Kenyatta's State of the Nation address by blowing a whistle.

This led to a suspension from Parliament until the end of the session. However, Wandayi challenged this action in the High Court, which ruled in his favour, citing that his constituents were not being represented.

From left: Former Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya, ODM Party Leader Raila Odinga and Former Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho during a past ODM event. (Photo: ODM)

Ali Hassan Joho

Former Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho has been nominated as the Cabinet Secretary for Mining, Blue Economy, and Maritime Affairs.

Joho, a prominent figure in Odinga's Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), previously served two terms as Mombasa's governor and had been proposed to serve as Cabinet Secretary for Lands if Azimio had won the presidential election. 

His return to a high-profile role marks his re-entry into the political spotlight after a period of relative quiet following Ruto's ascension to power.

Joho was born on February 26, 1967. He entered active politics in 2004 and served as the Kisauni party chairman for the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) from 2006 to 2007. In the 2007 general election, he was elected as the Kisauni MP on the ODM party ticket. Additionally, he was appointed as an assistant minister for transport in the government led by the late President Mwai Kibaki.

He also ascended to become a key confidant of Odinga, serving as the deputy party leader of the ODM.

Wycliffe Oparanya

Wycliffe Oparanya, the former Governor of Kakamega and Deputy Party Leader of ODM, has been nominated as the Cabinet Secretary for Cooperatives, Micro, and Small Enterprise Development.

Oparanya's political career includes serving as the Minister of State for Planning, National Development, and Vision 2030 under the late President Mwai Kibaki. He was also the Chairperson of the Council of Governors of Kenya and served as the Member of Parliament for Butere Constituency from 2007 to 2013. His new role in the Cabinet underscores his longstanding involvement in the country's political and economic planning spheres.

The nomination of these figures has raised questions about the future direction of the Azimio coalition and its relationship with the ruling government. The appointments may signify a strategic partnership or an attempt by President Ruto to build a broader political base by including members of the opposition in his administration.

The inclusion of seasoned politicians like Joho, Mbadi, and Oparanya, all of whom have held significant positions within the ODM and broader Azimio coalition, could indicate a move towards a more inclusive government approach.

However, the appointments have also sparked discussions about the internal dynamics within the ODM and the broader Azimio coalition. The youth have also yet to react to the changes, which may affect the trajectory of the recent protests.