President Uhuru injects fresh blood in Cabinet
President Uhuru Kenyatta has injected some fresh blood in his Executive by appointing youthful Chief Administrative Secretaries (CASs) who he described as trainee ministers, in a move seen to discredit the narrative by his critics that is government is for the old people.
Uhuru said the new CASs, some of whom are below 30 years of age, will work with, and understudy their more experienced colleagues in government with the aim of readying themselves to assume senior leadership positions in the near future.
“I expect that these young trainee ministers, so to speak, will model to their fellow young people the high ideals of patriotism, excellence in public service and most of all, integrity.
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I congratulate them for this appointment and look forward to working with them,” the President said.
Among those hired in yesterday’s reshuffle that saw Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mwangi Kiunjuri sacked and some ministers transferred, is former chairman of the Students Organisation of Nairobi University (Sonu) Zack Kinuthia.
The 31-year old Kinuthia, from Murang’a county, has been appointed the new Education CAS, meaning he will work under Cabinet Secretary Prof. George Magoha.
Kinuthia, who has also been a political commentator, holds a Bachelors Degree in Political Science and Economics from the University of Nairobi and is currently two semesters away from clearing his Law degree from the same university.
“The nomination of the youth today (as CASs), is a confidence vote from a president who is keen on consolidating his legacy towards bringing in the greatest constituency of Kenyans who are the youth.
It’s a good step for people who have been nominated to bring fresh blood in the way the government is operationalised,” Kinuthia told People Daily yesterday and thanked the president for his nomination.
Mombasa-based Ahmed Abdalla, 28, is the other youthful CAS making her debut to the Cabinet. She will serve in the Information, Communication and Technology docket that is under Cabinet Secretary Joe Mucheru.
Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho welcomed her appointment on his Twitter handle saying: “Congratulations Nadia Ahmed Abdalla on your appointment as CAS for ICT, Innovation & Youth.
As a county we are proud of you. It is our hope that you will use the same intellect, zeal and wisdom that you served the people of @MombasaCountyKe with to serve the nation”
Mumina Bonaya is the other youthful entrant in the executive. She is the Coordinator Climate Adaptation Fund (CAF) at Adaptation Consortium and has been appointed as one of the Education CAS.
Mumina previously worked as National Coordinator for Foundation for Pastoralist Women (FPW).
Mumina, a Masters Gender and Development Studies holder from the University of Nairobi, was one of the Top 40 Under 40 women finalists for 2017.
Embu County Executive Committee Member for Agriculture Ann Mukami Nyaga has been nominated as the new Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries & Cooperatives CAS, a docket now under Peter Munya who took over from Kiunjuri.
