The appointment of Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i to head a key cabinet committee continues to attract mixed reactions among leaders across the political divide.
This comes after President Uhuru Kenyatta on Tuesday named Matiang'i as the chairman of the newly created National Development Implementation and Communication Cabinet Committee which is mandated to supervise the execution of government programmes, projects and the Big Four agenda.
The move to give the Interior CS more powers has been interpreted by some political commentators as a strategy to put a brake on Deputy President William Ruto who has been crisscrossing the country in the name of launching and supervising government projects.
It has been alleged that the DP was using the tours to campaign for his 2022 presidential bid.
A section of leaders from the Rift Valley which is Ruto’s backyard, however, has welcomed Matiang'i's elevation to the unofficial chief minister position saying it was a move in the right direction.
Led by Belgut MP Nelson Koech, the leaders termed the Interior CS as a performer and a go-getter who will help the Jubilee government leave a lasting legacy which will be a strong campaign tool in 2022.
“In fact, if Dr Matiang’i and team delivers, it shall be a plus for Ruto and anybody intending to ride on the Jubilee ticket,” Koech said.
Expressing similar sentiments, Tinderet MP Julius Melly asked the DP's supporters not to read mischief in the appointment, saying it was aimed at efficiency and service delivery.
"Matiang’i is a performer and will deliver for the government. I worked with him as parliamentary committee chairman for education when he was CS in the ministry and I know him as a committed worker," Melly said.