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‘Sacked’ CSs report to work despite snub in initial cabinet changes

By DAVID MWERE January 9th, 2018 2 min read

A majority of the 13 Cabinet Secretaries who were left out in the list of appointees unveiled by President Uhuru Kenyatta on Friday, reported to work as usual even as their fate continues to remain unclear.

Members of staff in the affected ministries, especially personal assistants, were also anxious, fearing for their jobs.

Prof Jacob Kaimenyi (Lands), Mr Mwangi Kiunjuri (Devolution), Dr Cleopa Mailu (Health), Ms Amina Mohamed (Foreign Affairs), Mr Willy Bett (Agriculture) and Mr Eugene Wamalwa (Water) were among those who reported to work.

“I reported to work as usual. I also attended a meeting on the budget priorities for the ‘Big Four’,” Prof Kaimenyi told the Nation.

Jubilee’s “Big Four” agenda includes food security, affordable housing, manufacturing and affordable healthcare for all.

RETAINED SIX

On Friday, President Kenyatta announced he had retained six of his 20 Cabinet Secretaries, who served in his first term and nominated three new faces.

Perhaps taking caution that the President’s move may cause unnecessary panic among the CSs who were left hanging, State House Spokesman Manoah Esipisu was quick to clarify that the CSs currently in office “remain so until otherwise advised”.

At Kilimo House on Monday, Mr Bett reported to work but left in his official car for a meeting leaving behind his chase car and some bodyguards at the ministry’s parking yard.

“He is out for an official meeting and he is also scheduled for another meeting later in the day at the National Treasury,” an employee at the ministry told Nation.

Ms Sicily Kariuki of Public Service was also busy in her office, and sent out a tweet announcing her ministry’s vacancy in the Kenya Youth Employment and Opportunities Project.

HOLDING MEETINGS

At Afya House, Dr Mailu went about his duties that included holding meetings with his senior staff before leaving for lunch at Nairobi Club.

The situation was the same at the Devolution ministry with Mr Kiunjuri working as usual.

“The CS has just left for another engagement within town,” a worker at the ministry told Nation.

At the Foreign Affairs office, Ms Mohamed was said to have been busy in meetings that included MPs from Northern Kenya and some colleagues in Cabinet.

At Maji House, Mr Wamalwa was in as usual but left for a meeting at the Deputy President’s office, according to an employee at the ministry. The details of the meeting remained scanty.

The other CSs who reported to their offices were Ms Phyllis Kandie (East Africa Community) and Mr Adan Mohamed (Industry).

RESTRICTED ACCESS

However, access was restricted to the Environment ministry of Prof Judi Wakhungu and Mining, headed by former Malindi MP Dan Kazungu.

Prof Wakhungu was finalising plans for the “Bamako Convention on the Ban of the Importation of Hazardous Wastes to Africa and Control of Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Waste”.

The conference will be held in Abidjan from January 23 to 25 and she will serve as the champion of the convention

At Kenya Commercial Bank building, which houses the Sports ministry, Mr Hassan Wario was said to be in a meeting with the ministry’s senior staff.