President Uhuru Kenyatta with his newly appointed Cabinet in 2013. [Photo|nation.co.ke]
Central Kenya leaders have warned politicians against piling pressure on President Uhuru Kenyatta as he embarks on re-organising his cabinet.
Nyandarua Women Representative Faith Gitau said Uhuru should be allowed to pick his cabinet without interference.
"The president knows what qualities he is looking for in his new cabinet and he should be allowed to pick the people who he feels have the right skills without any meddling," she said.
Kirinyaga County MP Wangui Ngirici said the track record of the current cabinet secretaries will be key in determining whether they will be retained or sent home.
"It is not about loyalty, it's about development. Nobody says all the CSs must come back or dropped, it is upon the president to decide," Ngirici stated.
Their remarks come amid claims that Nyeri Senator Ephraim Maina told Uhuru to sack Devolution CS Mwangi Kiunjuri because 'Mt Kenya political leadership has lost faith in him.'
But the leaders distanced themselves from Maina's statement, adding Uhuru should have a free hand in picking his Cabinet.
"My position is that the president has a free hand to decide who to remove from his cabinet. If we have any particular issue we need to raise it with the president as Mount Kenya leaders and we can easily do so and quietly with the president," said Nyeri Town MP Wambugu Ngunjiri, as quoted by The Standard.
The MPs were speaking during a press conference in Nairobi over the weekend.
Uhuru has been under pressure to fulfil the promises he made to politicians before his reelection.
KANU said it threw its weight behind Uhuru in consideration of Cabinet appointments.
"We are expecting about two Cabinet Secretary, four Principal Secretary and several ambassadorial positions," said party Secretary General Nick Salat.