Faith Nyasuguta
Kenya’s President William Ruto has appointed four senior members of the opposition ODM party to his new broad-based government in response to ongoing nationwide protests.
The appointments were announced on Wednesday, with John Mbadi nominated for Cabinet Secretary of National Treasury, Opiyo Wandayi for Energy and Petroleum, Ali Hassan Joho for Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs, and Wycliffe Oparanya for the Ministry of Co-operatives and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Development.
These nominees are close allies of opposition leader Raila Odinga, who was President Ruto’s main competitor in the 2022 elections. The appointments come after six weeks of protests led by young demonstrators, which forced the withdrawal of the Finance Bill, 2024. These protests have disrupted economic activities across the country, highlighting a growing discontent with the current administration.
Despite the inclusion of opposition figures in the government, many protesters remain skeptical, fearing that the move might merely be an attempt to co-opt opposition leaders without addressing the underlying issues. The demonstrators have accused the entire political class of corruption and are demanding comprehensive reforms to combat graft and improve governance.
Coalition allies of Odinga’s party had previously stated that they would not participate in a unity government, expressing concerns that such arrangements often lead to the opposition being silenced by the allure of government positions and perks. The protests have already claimed more than 50 lives, marking the biggest crisis in Ruto’s two-year tenure.
In addition to the four ODM members, President Ruto reinstated five cabinet members he had dismissed earlier in response to the protesters’ demands. Last week, he announced 11 nominations, including six holdovers from the previous cabinet.
The background of one of the nominees announced on Wednesday was not immediately clear, but Ruto indicated that more nominations would follow soon.
In his address from State House Nairobi, President Ruto praised the leadership of various organizations for their cooperation in forming a broad-based government. He also promised to propose amendments to anti-corruption and public procurement laws, aiming to address some of the protesters’ concerns.
The protests have been largely organized online, mobilizing Kenyans across ethnic and regional lines. The demonstrators’ demands go beyond the immediate political landscape, calling for structural changes to tackle corruption and improve governance.
Here is the full list of the second batch of nominees announced on Wednesday:
- John Mbadi – National Treasury and Economic Planning
- Salim Mvurya – Investments, Trade and Industry
- Rebecca Miano – Tourism and Wildlife
- Opiyo Wandayi – Energy and Petroleum
- Kipchumba Murkomen – Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports
- Hassan Joho – Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs
- Alfred Mutua – Labour and Social Protection
- Wycliffe Oparanya – Ministry of Co-operatives and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Development
- Justin Muturi – Public Service, Performance and Delivery Management
- Stella Soi Lang’at – Gender, Culture, Arts and Heritage
Nominees announced on Friday, July 19, include:
- Ministry of the Interior and National Administration: Prof Kithure Kindiki
- Ministry of Health: Dr. Debra Mulonga Barasa
- Ministry of Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development: Alice Wahome
- Ministry of Education: Julius Migosi Ogamba
- Ministry of Defence: Roselinda Soipan Tuiya
- Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development: Dr. Andrew Mwihia Karanja
- Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry: Aden Barre Duale
- Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation: Eric Muriithi Muuga
- Ministry of Roads and Transport: Davis Chirchir
- Ministry of Information, Communication and the Digital Economy: Margaret Nyambura Ndung’u
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