William Ruto’s cabinet members have assumed their responsibilities fully after being sworn in on Thursday, October 27 at The Statehouse.
The swearing-in came a day after the National Assembly approved all the 24 cabinet nominees even though three of them, Peninah Malonza, Aisha Jumwa, and Mithika Linturi seemed to be a bad choice.
Malonza was unanimously rejected by the Appointments committee while Jumwa and Linturi were rejected by the committee’s Azimio members.
Details have however emerged on how Kenya Kwanza ensured that all the 24 cabinet nominees ascend to their specific responsibilities.
According to a local daily, Ruto’s allies used the Malonza issue to draw attention away from Jumwa and Linturi. Azimio, which is the minority, had come up with their report after vetting, detailing why Jumwa and Linturi should not be approved as CSs.
A further debate on why Malonza, the only and first CS from Kitui South and a woman, was being denied a chance to become a CS further overshadowed the Jumwa and Linturi matter. Malonza’s rejection also angered female lawmakers and MPs from Ukambani who stood with her as one of their own.
Aside from that, sources revealed that Kenya Kwanza sought help from the Wiper party, the dominant political party in Ukambani to rescue Malonza.
Her competitor in the Kitui women Rep race in the last election Irene Kisalu moved a motion to overturn the unanimous decision of the Appointments Committee that rejected her, suggesting that MPs should vote to approve her to the cabinet.
Several Wiper MPs who did not want their identities revealed separately accused two Ukambani leaders (Robert Mbui and Stephen Mule) who are members of the Appointments Committee of advocating for Malonza’s rejection just because she vied on UDA ticket.
As the MPs attended to Malonza’s matter, the minority report on the former Malindi MP and former Meru senator was forgotten about and eventually dropped.
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