President Uhuru Kenyatta suspends Cabinet secretaries, orders PSs to step aside
Saturday March 28 2015
President Uhuru Kenyatta has suspended Cabinet secretaries named in a report by Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC). He has appointed other Cabinet secretaries to oversee the dockets of the suspended CSs as they are investigated.
State House spokesperson Manoah Esipisu said the principal secretaries and other State officers named in the EACC list have also been asked to step aside.
Mr Esipisu said the President has instructed the board of parastatals whose heads appear in the dossier to appoint other chief executives to act pending the investigations.
The suspended Cabinet secretaries are Felix Koskei (Agriculture), Davis Chirchir (Energy), Michael Kamau (Transport) and Kazungu Kambi (Labour).
The president appointed Industrialisation CS Adan Mohammed to take over the Agriculture docket, while Henry Rotich of National Treasury will be in charge of Energy.
Mr Kambi’s Labour ministry will be headed by Raychell Omamo of Defence, while Health CS James Macharia will be in charge of Eng Kamau Transport docket.
Senior Officers
Other senior State officers and principal secretaries that have complied with the president's directive to step aside include Secretary to the Cabinet Francis Kimemia, Principal Secretary for Defence Mutea Iringo, Nduva Muli (PS Transport), Patrick Omutia (PS Mining), James Teko (PS Water), Chief of Staff in the Office of the Deputy President Marianne Kittany and the Investment Secretary Treasury Esther Koimett.
Former Immigration CS Jane Waikenda, who is the deputy head of Mission at the Kenya Embassy in South Africa, has also heeded the directive to step aside.
Parastatals
With regard to State corporations, the affected Boards have been instructed to call urgent board meetings in order to appoint acting officers in place of all chief executives and other officers adversely mentioned in the EACC report.
The officers affected by the directive include Chairman of the Agricultural Finance Corporation (AFC) Patrick Osero, managing director of the Geothermal Development Company Dr Silas Simiyu, managing director of Nzoia Sugar Company Francis Oyatsi, managing trustee National Social Security Fund (NSSF) Richard Langat, acting chief executive of the National Water Conservation and Pipeline Corporation Evans Ngibuini, chief executive Kentrade Alex Kabuga, managing director Kenya Airports Authority Lucy Mbugua, managing director Kenya Pipeline Corporation Charles Tonui and chief executive of the Tourism Fund Allan Chenane.
