Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary General (SG) Francis Atwoli commented on the new Cabinet nominees announced by President William Ruto.
Speaking in Kisumu on Saturday, July 27, Atwoli urged the president to include more young people in his cabinet and expressed his support for the inclusion of opposition figures.
At the same time, he hinted at employing at least five per cent of Gen Zs in the trade union movement.
“Kenya has almost 60 million population with the most educated people who can help the president. We have asked the president to employ 10 per cent. Let us try to employ about five per cent of the Gen Zs in our trade union movement,” Atwoli said.
Additionally, the SG criticized remarks made by some Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) members, calling them unfortunate and stating that they lack an understanding of the complexities involved in ensuring a country’s stability.
Furthermore, Atwoli defended Azimio la Umoja leader Raila Odinga against a section of leaders who felt that he let Kenyans down while noting that they do not engage with the citizens directly.
Similarly, Atwoli urged the president to dismiss leaders who fail to serve or engage with their constituents after three to six months.
“People are saying that you can’t work in government. This is the freedom we wanted, Kenya is ours now, you can be in the opposition, and you go to government, and you become a minister, it wasn’t there.
“People who are saying Azimio or Raila let down people, where were they? Some of them when I read their messages, they are academicians, and they will ask the president those arrogant ministers who don’t pick phone calls from wananchi (citizens) after three months or six months they should be booted,” he added.
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Atwoli’s remarks come after President William Ruto unveiled the second batch of cabinet nominees after the dismissal of former Cabinet Secretaries on July 11.
In an address from State House, the head of state submitted the names of the second batch for consideration and approval by the National Assembly for appointment as Cabinet Secretaries.
However, Ruto’s move was met with mixed reactions as a section of Kenyans and leaders felt it was another handshake looming for Ruto and Raila Odinga under the guise of a broad-based government.
Ruto said that the nominees were chosen after further consultation with different stakeholder with the aim of ensuring peace in the country following the recent anti-government protests.
The ODM nominees included John Mbadi Ng’ongo who has been nominated to the Ministry of National Treasury and Economic Planning and James Opiyo Wandayi who has been named as designated CS in the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum.
On the other hand, Hassan Joho was nominated to the ministry of Mining, Blue economy and Maritime Affairs and while former Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Ambetsa Oparanya was nominated to lead the Ministry of Co-operatives and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Development.
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