The recent statement by Deputy President William Ruto who revealed that he employed Eugene Wamalwa as a Cabinet Secretary has taken a new angle, The Kenya Times has established.
According to an autobiography by one of the Kenya Kwanza co-principals Musalia Mudavadi, CS Wamalwa was first employed in President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Jubilee Alliance government in 2013 after intercession by Mudavadi.
This comes after the recent outburst by Ruto who said he employed Wamalwa as CS following a recent heated exchange between the two while on the campaign trail.
Responding to remarks by Wamalwa who stated that Ruto, almost slapped him at State House Nairobi, the DP sarcastically said that his culture does not support the slapping of women.
The DP then revealed that he picked the Defence CS from the streets and gave him a job.
“I heard somebody I gave the CS job who comes from here (Trans-Nzoia County) claims that I wanted to slap him. Let me tell you this; where I come from, we do not slap women. Tell him that we respect women,” the DP said.
However, according to Mudavadi’s Autobiography: Soaring Above The Storms of Passion, CS Wamalwa was granted a position in the Jubilee administration in 2013 after Mudavadi asked Uhuru to do so.
Mudavadi says that Wamalwa was disgruntled after his party (Mudavadi’s) Amani National Congress (ANC) which had formed a coalition with New FORD Kenya where Wamalwa was a key participant lost to Uhuru’s and Ruto’s Jubilee Alliance consisting of Uhuru’s The National Alliance (TNA) and Ruto’s United Democratic Party (UDP) in 2013.
“I was getting exceeding pressure from New Ford Kenya that they too wanted jobs in government. I remember that we got to a point where I had a session with Uhuru and Eugene Wamalwa to help resolve the job situation,” Mudavadi said.
“You know Wycliffe…ah…ah” Eugene hesitated. “We have been in the cold for long now, and it is actually taking a toll on me,” he (Eugene Wamalwa) concluded appearing quite distressed.”
I know that my brother,” Mudavadi said, seeing clearly where the conversation was headed. In the ensuing embarrassment hiatus of silence, I turned to Uhuru. “Hey, Mr President,” I said, “if you have a position, could you kindly grant it to my brother Eugene?” The ANC party leader further revealed.
Mudavadi says that after that, both President Uhuru and Eugene were dumbstruck adding that they were taken aback and Wondered loudly why he, Mudavadi, was not asking for a job.
“President Kenyatta shortly thereafter carved out a new portfolio in the Agriculture and Irrigation Ministry and appointed Eugene Wamalwa Cabinet Secretary in the new Ministry of Water and Irrigation, while Agriculture and Livestock remained under Willy Bet,” Mudavadi wrote.