19 Cabinet Secretaries Sworn into Office, 1 Nominee Left Out

19 Cabinet Secretaries appointed by President William Ruto have been sworn into office at State House Nairobi on Thursday morning, August 8. 

This happened after the National Assembly approved the Committee on Appointments' report, endorsing 19 out of the 20 Cabinet nominees while rejecting Stella Lang’at, who was nominated for the Gender docket. 

Lang’at skipped the swearing in ceremony held at State House and presided over by Head of Public Service Felix Koskei and witnessed by President Ruto. A last-minute withdrawal of an amendment intended to salvage Lang’at's nomination sealed her fate on Wednesday evening, August 7. 

As the State House swearing in ceremony was going on, anti-government protests, dubbed #NaneNane, were kicking off in Nairobi CBD and other parts of the country.

The swearing-in ceremony came 27 days after President Ruto dismissed all but one of his former Cabinet Secretaries, indicating a rapid overhaul of his administration. 

The Prime Cabinet Secretary, Musalia Mudavadi, has been serving as the Acting Cabinet Secretary for all vacant ministries since the reshuffle was announced. His interim role, formalised through a Gazette Notice, has been a crucial element of the Cabinet's temporary management.

Those sworn in include:

1. Kithure Kindiki - CS Interior
2. Debra Barasa - CS Health
3. Alice Wahome - CS Lands
4. Julius Migos - CS Education
5. Soipan Tuya - CS Defence
6. Andrew Karanja - CS Agriculture
7. Aden Duale - CS Environment
8. Eric Mugaa - CS Water
9. Davis Chirchir - CS Roads
10. Margaret Ndung'u - CS ICT
11. John Mbadi - CS Treasury
12. Salim Mvurya - CS Investments and Trade
13. Rebecca Miano - CS Tourism
14. Opiyo Wandayi - CS Energy
15. Kipchumba Murkomen - CS Sports
16. Hassan Joho - CS Mining
17. Alfred Mutua - CS Labour
18. Wycliffe Oparanya - CS MSMEs
19. Justin Muturi - CS Public Service

The House’s endorsement of the nominees signifies a pivotal change in President Ruto’s administration, demonstrating his commitment to rejuvenating his government amid public scrutiny and discontent. This approval occurred despite opposition from various MPs concerning the new appointments.

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