Ruto’s PS list sparks debate on ethnic, regional balance
Ruto’s PS list sparks debate on ethnic, and regional balance, exposing his struggle to reward political loyalists and professionals.
President William Ruto has sparked yet another political uproar after he released a list of his Principal Secretary nominees that was unbalanced in terms of gender and region balance.
Instead, the PS list, which also appeared to have fallen short of the requirements on diversity testing, portrayed the President as juggling a difficult balance between rewarding political allies — particularly from his and his deputy’s Rift Valley and Mt. Kenya bedrocks — and professionals.
Additionally, President Ruto expanded his State departments to 49, with two principal secretaries designated for the Office of the Deputy President, in contrast to his predecessor, retiring president Uhuru Kenyatta, who had 42 departments.
Out of the nominees announced yesterday, 12 were women, making up 23% of the nominees, while 39 men made up the appointments or 77% of the appointments.
Overall, this fell short of President Ruto’s pre-election pledge to provide a 50:50 gender balance in government appointments as well as the constitutional requirement of the one-third gender rule.
Complicating the situation further for the President, 22 of the nominees, which translates to 43 percent, are from the two regions; Rift Valley and Mt Kenya, both of which overwhelmingly supported and voted for him on August 9, 2022.
Thirteen of the nominees are from the Rift Valley region while 11 others are from Mt Kenya.
These accounted for 51 percent of the appointments, with all the other regions and communities left to share 49 percent of the slots which were picked from 477 applicants shortlisted by the Public Service Commission (PSC) from a total of 9,154 applicants.
Reactions over Ruto’s PS list
Professor Macharia Munene, a political analyst and historian, claimed that while the President was required to take gender into consideration, he was unable to meet the gender rule threshold since a number of considerations, including loyalty and knowledge, were at play in the selection of the nominees.
Furthermore, according to Prof. Macharia, it was the president’s responsibility to make sure that he recognized and rewarded his allies in business and politics. Additionally, he kept a few senior civil servants, which can help maintain continuity in important areas like education.
“The list is a mixture of politicians and experienced bureaucrats, which was expected because the President had politicians to reward for standing with him, and also to ensure he has people who are supportive of him and his agenda,” Prof Macharia said.
“He had to ensure he got experienced and efficient professionals, and given that the PSs are accounting officers and also policymakers, some politicians are professionals also. As for the gender, he tried but he did not attain it because it is below the required two-thirds rule”.
Narok Senator Ledama Ole Kina said the list of nominees failed to meet regional balance and it is dominated by people from two communities.
“We told you the KK @WilliamsRuto government will be a Kalenjin and Kikuyu affair, not a Kenyan affair not -Mama Mboga- “bottom-up” my foot “!- … look at the PS list? …. You asked for it you will cry about it … na bado they will amend the constitution. I told you the moment is here!” He tweeted.
Another Twitter user Phannie A. Kwegah said most of the President’s loyalties have been rewarded.
“From the list of Principal Secretaries, we have only two Luhyas, Kisianganyi and Inyangala. The rest are 70% Kalenjin, and 20% others. Again, loyalties, are heavily rewarded. As we move,” Phannie commended.
Abuga Makori said the President nominated the majority of the PSs from his community.
“President William Ruto has decided to make Principal Secretaries a Kalenjin Affair. Congratulations Amba. Bitok, Nixon Korir, Belio Kipsang, Julius Korir, Chris Kiptoo, Aurelia Rono, and Korir Sing’oei among others. Kenya is a united nation. Special mention to Edward Kisiangani,” he tweeted.
Also read,
Ruto appoints 49 Principal Secretaries (PSs); rewards loyalists (LIST)
MPs’ report warns of a tougher life ahead for more Kenyans
Ruto in a media dispatch commends Uhuru over the peace deal
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