On 27th September, the President of Kenya, William Ruto, announced his new cabinet. A debate is ensuing on whether he was justified to appoint most political loyalists over technocrats. As we have seen in previous regimes, political loyalty is often rewarded with plum appointments in government.
The two-third gender rule, as stipulated in the constitution, was also at play in the appointments. Ten women were appointed to the cabinet, with seven of them appointed as cabinet secretaries. The president also appointed women as national security advisor and secretaries to the cabinet.
That said, let’s look at the academic qualification of each of the appointees.
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Cabinet Secretaries & Educational Background
| Appointee | Ministry | Education Background | Previous Position or Experience |
| Musalia Mudavadi | Chief Cabinet Secretary | Bachelor of Arts (Land Economics) | Vice President
Various Ministerial Positions Sabatia MP (3 terms) |
| Kithure Kindiki | Interior | PhD in International Law | Senior Lecturer
Senator Senate Majority Leader |
| Njuguna Ndung’u | National Treasury | PhD in Economics | CBK Governor
Director of Training (African Economic Research Consortium) Economics lecturer |
| Aisha Jumwa | Public Service and Gender | Bachelor of Commerce | Member of Parliament
Women Representative Chairperson Kilifi Town Council |
| Aden Duale | Defence | MBA & Education | Member of Parliament
NA Leader of Majority Assistant Minister |
| Alice Wahome | Water, Sanitation & Irrigation | Bachelor of Law | Member of Parliarment
FIDA Vice Chairperson Senior Advocate |
| Alfred Mutua | Foreign and Diaspora Affairs | PhD in Communication & Media | Governor
Government Spokesperson Journalism |
| Moses Kuria | Trade | Bachelor of Commerce | Several Corporate Managerial positions
Member of Parliament |
| Rebecca Miano | EAC | Masters of Laws | KenGen CEO
Advocate |
| Kipchumba Murkomen | Roads & Transport | Masters of Law | Senator
Senior Advocate |
| Zacharia Mwangi Njeru | Lands | BSc Information Science | MCA
Several Managerial Position in Insurance Indusctry |
| Peninah Malonza | Tourism | No Information | Deputy Governor
Senior Executive |
| Mithika Linturi | Agriculture | Business Course
CPA |
Senator
Member of Parliament |
| Ezekiel Machogu | Education | Bachelor of Arts | Member of Parliament
Senior PSC Deputy Secretary |
| Davis Chirchir | Energy and Petroleum | MBA | Cabinet Secretary
IEBC IT Director |
| Ababu Namwamba | Sports | Master of Laws | Member of Parliament
Minister for Sports |
| Simon Chelugui | Cooperatives and MSMEs | Msc. Soil & Water Engineering
MBA |
Cabinet Secretary
NCDF Director |
| Salim Mvurya | Mining | Master’s in Participation, Power & Social Change | Governor
Acting Country Director for Plan Kenya |
| Florence Bore | Labour | Bachelor of Education Arts | Member of Parliament
Teacher |
| Susan Wafula | Health | Msc. Procurement & Logistics | Head of Supply Chain UCSF
Procurement & Logistics Manager |
| Eliud Owalo | Communication | MBA in HRM | Managing Consultant
Former KSG Director |
| Roselinda Tuya | Environment & forestry | Masters of Laws | Member of Parliament
Land Law & Gender Specialist USAID |
List of Cabinet Secretaries in Kenya
At a time when Kenya is facing an economic crisis, the new cabinet is a mix of technocrats and political loyalists. The question remains, can they turn things around?
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