Pressure is mounting on President William Ruto to crack the whip on nonperforming Cabinet Secretaries and those who show laxity.
Speaking during the Institution of Surveyors of Kenya (ISK) pre-AGM conference on Wednesday, August 2, renowned lawyer PLO Lumumba said leaders are answerable and responsible for all their actions when in office.
“You are telling people to come at eight and you are coming at ten. Then you leave after two hours. Leadership must be by example.
I love what the President of the Republic of Kenya did. What kind of person are you? You are paid with public funds; a minister, a department head, and you arrive late. Why were you late, and what were you doing?” Lumumba stated.
Also Read: Ruto Blasts Latecomers at State House Event, Demands Apology
Lumumba said leaders, especially Cabinet Secretaries and other elected leaders should be leading by example and mishaps such as lateness call for stern action.
“The only thing that the President did not do, which I wished he did, was to sack the individuals immediately. They should go home,” he said.
Popular political analyst Mutahi Ngunyi earlier on had also asked the president to show no mercy to his CSs and PSs in what he described as ‘terrorizing his cabinet’.
“Dear Ruto: Keep your ministers in suspended terror. Be unpredictable. You should occasionally fire a minister or PS for no good earthly reason,” the political scientist stated.
Mutahi Ngunyi referenced Daniel Moi who fired former Vice Chancellor of the University of Nairobi Peter Mbithi on radio and advised Ruto to be ruthless.
Also Read: Gachagua Fears Dialogue Between Ruto and Raila; Otiende Amollo
During the event at State House, several CSs, including interior CS Kithure Kindiki and his Trade counterpart Moses Kuria were locked out after arriving late. A visibly angry and helpless Ruto asked the latecomers to apologize.
“For those who came late, who are members of the Executive. I will be expecting a written explanation from you. Those who claim of traffic does not add up,” Ruto stated.
On his part, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua slammed SCs for showing up late and for being obsessed with foreign trips.
“You can’t arrive at an event when the President is already seated. Why would you come late? How do you explain that? Who did you go to see and yet today was the most important day for you to sign contracts?” Gachagua wondered.