Ruto Lists CS Nominees as Cracks Widen in Azimio & ODM

Ruto’s Final Cabinet List, Azimio Messy Divorce and Gen Z Not Boarding

President William Ruto on July 24 unveiled the second batch of cabinet nominees after he fired former Cabinet Secretaries on July 11.

This leaves the question on whether the Gen Z are ready to back down on their unrelenting ‘Ruto Must Go’ calls and if there is a looming split in Azimio coalition.

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Ruto Nominates ODM Party Members to Constitute his New Cabinet

President Ruto submitted the names of the second batch of his cabinet nominees for consideration and approval by the National Assembly.

Ruto said that the nominees were chosen after further consultation with different stakeholders.

In his bid to create a broad-based government, the president submitted a list including members from the opposition party Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).

Some of these nominees are John Mbadi Ng’ongo (Ministry of National Treasury and Economic Planning) Ali Hassan Joho (Ministry of Mining), and Opiyo Wandayi (Ministry of Energy and Petroleum) and Wycliffe Oparanya (Ministry of Co-operatives and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

“In my last address to the nation, I undertook to consult a broad spectrum of stakeholders from all sectors, levels and regions to constitute a broad-based government,” said Ruto.

“In line with this undertaking, I will be forwarding additional names to Parliament for vetting prior to appointment based on the understanding of the Cabinet’s essential role in driving the transformational agenda that makes Kenya a better, more just and more prosperous nation for all.”

Cracks Widen in ODM as Confusion Rocks Azimio Coalition

Following Ruto’s nomination of ODM leaders, confusion has not only rocked the party but the entire Azimio coalition in which ODM is part of.

First, a section of ODM leaders led by the Secretary General Edwin Sifuna dissociated the party from reports that they are forming a coalition agreement with Ruto.

Speaking June 25, Sifuna stated that the nomination of four ODM members to the cabinet was done without the party’s endorsement.

Sifuna noted that ODM Chairman John Mbadi, National Assembly Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi, Ali Hassan Joho, and Wycliffe Oparanya had direct discussions with President William Ruto to join the cabinet.

The Nairobi Senator said ODM to officially join Kenya Kwanza, there must be a formal agreement document between ODM party leader Raila Odinga and Ruto.

“The position that we gave in the statement that I issued two days ago is that they are going to join government in their individual capacities, and we don’t begrudge them but for you to say that ODM has joined government, you have to show me a document,” Sifuna said.

President William Ruto and a section of Azimio leaders at a past press briefing. Photo/The Kenya Times.

Confusion in Azimio

NARC Kenya party leader Martha Karua on July 25 hinted that the Azimio-One Kenya Coalition is grappling and might break up in the near future.

According to Karua, Azimio has been unstable since the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) tabled its report.

She also pointed out that the nomination of top ODM officials to President William Ruto’s cabinet could have marked the end of the Coalition.

“Azimio is shaky, and I think after yesterday it is done. I’m saying shaky because since the NADCO report we have been pulling in different directions. The only thing that saves us is that we decided to build our individual parties at the beginning of this year,” Karua said.

However, Karua revealed that there will be a meeting between a certain section of the Azimio coalition leaders on Monday, July 29, to make the final decision after Ruto’s nomination.

Gen Zs Stand on Ruto’s Final List of Cabinet Nominees

After Ruto named the final batch of his cabinet secretaries, Gen Zs issued a statement rejecting the Cabinet Nominees.

Gen Zs stated that being a CS is an important job which requires leaders who can advise the president on a better and more efficient way to drive the nation’s agenda.

According to the statement, President Ruto has not listened to their calls and has gone ahead to recycle politicians from the previous cabinet.

“Has the president listened? No. He has even gone further in what we can term as an insult to the Kenyan people and nominated the exact same people we refused,” the statement reads in part.

Gen Zs stressed that the nominated CSs are not fit to hold the positions and their nominations are against the Constitution.

In addition, they claimed that all the nominees lack integrity and have no requisite ability and experience to serve as the respective cabinet secretaries they have been nominated to.

“Therefore, we are not satisfied with all the nominees and confirm that they are not able and fit to hold any public office, and that their nomination is against chapter six of our constitution on leadership and integrity,” reads another part of the statement.

Kenya Submits New Economic Plan to IMF After Fall of Finance Bill 2024

After the total rejection of Finance Bill 2024, Kenya has submitted an economic repair plan to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for consideration.

Speaking before the parliamentary budget committee, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi said that the IMF board is expected to review the plan for approval at a meeting scheduled for end of August.

Mudavadi told the parliamentary budget committee that the National Treasury had maintained engagement with the IMF, despite recent protests.

“The Treasury has had a very robust engagement with the International Monetary Fund, even in the midst of the challenges we have been facing,

“It is our desire and hope that Kenya’s proposition will receive favorable consideration so that we can move beyond the challenges that we are facing,” said Mudavadi to the panel.

Is JKIA on Sale?

Reports on the sale of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) have been widely circulated forcing Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi to make clarifications on the matter.

Speaking on July 23 before a Parliamentary Committee, Mudavadi affirmed that JKIA is not for sale.

“Let me discount immediately that the airport, the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, is not on sale. This is a public asset; it is a strategic asset,” Mudavadi stated.

“And if it was going to be sold, you can only do it after a full public process that parliament endorses,” he added.

Mudavadi’s clarification came when Gen Zs threatened to carry their protests to the airport in a movement dubbed OccupyJKIA.

However, the Prime CS acknowledged the need for modernization at JKIA, mentioning previous plans for a new terminal that never materialized due to contractual and litigation issues.

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President William Ruto has made changes in the Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) and effected several promotions of KDF officers within all wings of the military. Among the big appointments is that of Major General Stephen James Mutuku who has been appointed as the Deputy Commandant National Defence College (NDC), Brigadier John Sankale Kiswaa as the Deputy Commander Kenya Navy and Brigadier Peter Shikukuu Chelimo as the Director Centre for Security and Strategic Studies – National Defence University Kenya.
National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula announced that there was no bill to be presented to President William Ruto for assent after Members of Parliament voted in favor of the deletion of all clauses in the contentious Finance Bill 2024.
Martha Karua’s NARC Kenya Party announced its exit from Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition effective July 25, 2024 citing the recent turbulent political atmosphere present in the country. This came after Ruto nominated members of the ODM party to his cabinet.
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