Kindiki, Duale make a come back in Ruto's new Cabinet

President William Ruto on Friday named his first batch of Cabinet nominees with familiar faces making a comeback. Ruto, during the State of the Nation address at State House, Nairobi, said he was in the process of forming a new, broad-based cabinet to assist him in transforming the country.

“I have started the process of forming a new, broad-based cabinet to assist me in driving the urgently needed and irreversible transformation of our country. I hereby nominate the following first batch of 11 individuals for consideration and approval by the National Assembly for appointment as Cabinet Secretaries and Attorney General,” Ruto said.

Kithure Kindiki was nominated to the Interior and National Administration docket which he was previously serving while Aden Duale was also nominated back to the Defence Ministry.

Soipan Tuya was also nominated to the Environment and Forestry docket and former Kandara MP Alice Wahome was also nominated to her initial Ministry of Lands and Housing.

Former Energy CS Davis Chirchir has been nominated to the Roads and Transport, a docket which was held by former Elgeyo Marakwet Senator, Kipchumba Murkomen.

Former Trade CS Rebecca Miano was nominated as the Attorney General replacing Justin Muturi. If vetted and approved, Miano will become the first female to become the Attorney General in Kenya.

Health CS nominee Dr Debra Mulongo Barasa. (Handout)

The Head of State said next week he will issue clear assignments to the new Cabinet and clear timelines of delivery. "I will be issuing next week a clear offer on the assignment that the new cabinet is going to have, with clear timelines of delivery," he said.

Other CSs nominated include; Dr Debra Mulongo Barasa (Health), Julius Ogamba (Education), Dr Andrew Karanja (Agriculture), Davis Chirchir (Road and Transport), Eric Muriithi (water) and Dr Margaret Ndungu (ICT ministry).

Ruto was flanked by Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and Prime CS Musalia Mudavadi when he made the announcement.

The president had dismissed his cabinet secretaries on July 11 following the heightened protests by the Gen Zs in the country. He told Kenyans, as the Head of State, he would reflect and nominate a new Cabinet.

“I gave the nation the undertaking to reflect at length on these issues that have been brought into sharp focus by the people of Kenya, consult widely on the way forward and craft a broad-based Government that would harness the enormous potential in our country to turbocharge our economic transformation and inclusive growth,” Ruto said.

The President noted that the events of the past month have caused tremendous anxiety, concern and uncertainty. "The crisis has presented Kenya with a great opportunity to craft a broad-based, and inclusive citizen coalitions or national transformation, and progress made up of Kenyans from all walks of life."

“It cannot be denied that our nation has been in a crisis caused by multiple and complex factors. Neither can we turn away from recognising that the opportunity before us is greater than the crisis,” he said.

Expressing optimism, Ruto said that with a new cabinet in line, Kenyans have a chance to move the country forward.