Embakasi North Constituency Member of Parliament (MP) James Gakuya has told off a section of Kenyans criticising the appointments of Cabinet Secretaries who were sworn in on Thursday, August 8, 2024.
Gakuya’s take
Speaking on Friday, August 9, 2024, during a televised interview with K24 TV, Gakuya said the appointed CSs must eat because their positions are salaried.
Gakuya argues that CS positions are meant for human beings, and more so Kenyans that qualify to be nominated.
“You cannot expect NGOs to come and fill these positions. These positions (CS) are for human beings, and more so those Kenyan citizens that qualify to be nominated. The powers to nominate lie under one appointing authority, because it is the prerogative of the president to appoint such a cabinet, but he has no mandatory power to give them a job because it is subject to that process of vetting,” Gakuya stated.
He took a swipe at Kenyans who have been opposing the CSs that were recently appointed by President William Ruto and subsequently sworn in.
Gakuya says the CSs will have to eat since they cannot work for free.
“In this case, I would like to tell Kenyans who feel like the appointment of this cabinet is just for the purpose of eating, eating is a must. Because these are salaried positions, and you cannot expect a CS to do a free job. It is a job you earn a million or so,” Gakuya said.
Hon. James Gakuya: The CS positions are for Kenyans who qualify for the positions. The power to nominate is under the president. For the Kenyans who feel like those CS positions are just for eating, eating is a must.#NewDawn pic.twitter.c*m/a3Na3ON6iW
— K24 TV (@K24Tv) August 9, 2024
Ruto’s CS appointments
Kenyans have been criticising the appointment of a section of Ruto’s CSs, arguing that they had been put in the positions to eat.
Kenyans got outraged when President Ruto included six members from the previous cabinet, while announcing the first batch of his cabinet.
The H**d of State drew more criticism from Kenyans when he nominated more members from his previous cabinet and four individuals from the opposition’s Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party.
CS appointments challenged
Ruto’s CS appointments have, however, been challenged in court.
The Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) has filed a case in court seeking to revoke the appointment of all 19 Cabinet Secretaries.
KHRC and Wanjiru Gikonyo, in an affidavit sworn by Davis Malombe in support of the petition, argue that the vetting process failed to address integrity concerns and lacked adequate public participation, among other issues.