North Imenti Member of Parliament Abdul Rahim Dawood now says Mithika Linturi deserves a major cabinet position in William Ruto’s administration.
Speaking in Karen during the inaugural meeting convened by the President-elect, Hon. Rahim says Linturi put up a spirited UDA campaign in Meru County that yielded 398,707 votes for Ruto against Raila Odinga’s 103,297 votes.
In 2017, Uhuru Kenyatta garnered 482,580 votes from Meru County and 162,529 from Tharaka Nithi, against Raila Odinga’s 55,602 and 10,355 respectively.
Linturi garnered 183,859 votes in the Meru gubernatorial race, and lost to Kawira Mwangaza who got 209,148 votes. Kiraitu Murungi emerged the last in the race with 110,814 votes only.
And as lobbying for Cabinet positions intensifies in the corridors of power ahead of the expected unveiling of a new team by President-elect William Ruto and his Deputy Rigathi Gachagua, the Meru legislators have expressed optimism that the Meru vote will be richly rewarded.
According to Buuri MP Mugambi Rindikiiri, the much-coveted ministries of Agriculture and Roads should be reserved for leaders from Meru.
His Tigania West counterpart Dr. Mutunga has expressed optimism that Meru will get two cabinet slots and two Principal Secretaries in Ruto’s administration.
Central Imenti MP Kirima Nguchine says the matter has already been discussed with the President-elect.
“We have discussed the issue of cabinet appointments with the boss. We insist that we should have the Ministry of Agriculture, mainly because Meru is an agriculture community.” Nguchine says.
In Tharaka Nithi, all eyes are on Kithure Kindiki as residents hope President William Ruto’s government will end their long wait for the first ever Cabinet Minister.
“Tharaka Nithi has never seen one of their sons or daughters in any cabinet since independence. We are sure William Ruto will reward our loyalty with a minister and several other appointments.” says Tharaka Nithi Senator-elect Mwenda Gataya.
Amani National Congress (ANC) party has already nominated its party leader Musalia Mudavadi for appointment as the Prime Cabinet Secretary once President-elect William Ruto takes office.
In a special meeting by the party’s Council held Wednesday, the council unanimously nominated Mr. Mudavadi for the position.
This follows a pre-election agreement reached by the Kenya Kwanza Alliance in the run-up to the August 9 General Election. The new position is to be created through an Executive Order.
As part of his quest to run a transparent and accountable government, President-elect William Ruto says that he will ensure his Cabinet Secretaries can be summoned to Parliament and “grilled on the floor of the House.”
Dr. Ruto, speaking after a closed-door meeting with all Kenya Kwanza elected leaders, said that together with legislators, they will amend Standing Orders to ensure that Cabinet Secretaries do not just go to Parliamentary committees.
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