President Uhuru Kenyatta at a past event. [PHOTO/the-star.co.ke]
Two days after President Uhuru Kenyatta named part of his cabinet, there is still shock and confusion among Cabinet Secretaries (CSs) as anxiety and panic grips most Principal Secretaries (PSs).
This is after the president's gesture of 'dropping' majority of them showed that he was not satisfied with a big part of the cabinet and how they dispensed their services.
Uhuru's decision to fire 13 CSs showed the bloodbath that PS’s and parastatal chiefs should expect as he forms a government to deliver on his legacy aspirations.
The panic-stricken officials however insist they still stand a chance since the president is yet to name his entire Cabinet.
“The President has not sacked me, he only mentioned a few colleagues he hopes to retain in their dockets and appointed a few others. Until the whole process is completed, you can’t say I have been sacked. I could be moved to another docket you know,” said a sitting CS who was not listed among the retained six.
On Friday, Uhuru nominated three new CSs and retained six.
“I wish to state that I am retaining the following persons in my Cabinet and shall re-assign them accordingly their duties in accordance with Article 152 (5) (A) and these are Henry Rotich (Treasury), Najib Balala (Tourism), James Macharia (Transport), Fred Matiang’i (Interior and education (acting), Charles Keter (Energy) and Joseph Mucheru (ICT),” the President said during a press conference on Friday.
However, the State House has assured the old bosses that they are still in office awaiting further communication.
“This is to clarify that the Cabinet Secretaries currently in office remain so, as instructed in a memorandum from the Head of Public Service in December, until otherwise advised,” stated State House Spokesman Manoah Esipisu.
“In the coming days, the President will complete the task of assembling the team of office, guided by merit, integrity, commitment to service and in terms of the Constitution,” he added.