Big names that Ruto left out in PS nominations

Several high-profile figures missed out on Principal Secretary nominations as President William Ruto unveiled his new team of accounting officers for state departments on Thursday.

In the latest reshuffle, President William Ruto fired nine PSs, appointed 13 new ones, and created new departments—moves that highlight Raila Odinga’s growing influence in government.

The changes saw the creation of seven new state departments, bringing the total number of PSs to about 58—the highest since the promulgation of the 2010 Constitution—despite ongoing concerns about the country’s ballooning wage bill.

The nominations mark the culmination of a lengthy process that began with the Public Service Commission (PSC) shortlisting 109 candidates out of 2,476 applicants.

Several notable figures who were interviewed but failed to make it to the final list include both UDA and ODM heavyweights.

Among them are former nominated MP Wilson Sossion, political commentator Gabriel Oguda, Health Director-General Patrick Amoth, former PS Nicholas Muraguri, ex-KCC Managing Director Nixon Sigey, and TVET Director General Kipkirui Langat.

Key figures from former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration were also left out.

These include former Health PS Nicholas Muraguri, ex-Nairobi Governor Anne Kananu, former Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) David Osiany, and former Foreign Affairs Director General Amb. Galma Boru.

Others who missed out are Patrick Mwenda Bucha, who served in the Housing Department, former PS for the State Department for Development Micah Pkopus Powon, former Independent Policing Oversight Authority Chairperson Ann Makori, Athi Water Works CEO Joseph Mungai Kamau, and former Kipkelion East MP Joseph Kirui.

They were unsuccessful in navigating the final selection process to assume key responsibilities as accounting officers in various state departments.

For those appointed, their roles will include managing financial and human resources while overseeing policy implementation.

Explaining the changes, Head of Public Service Felix Koskei stated that the reshuffle was necessary to harness opportunities in emerging economic sectors and address social challenges affecting the country.

“Collectively, the changes seek to further accelerate the implementation of the administration’s seminal socio-economic blueprint, the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA),” Koskei said in a dispatch.

Among the new appointees is former senator and ODM election board chairperson Judith Pareno, who will head the newly created Office of Justice, Human Rights, and Constitutional Affairs in the State Law Office.

Raila Odinga’s longtime youth leader at the Coast, Fikirini Jacobs, was named PS for Youth Affairs in the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

He replaces Ismail Madey, who has been reassigned to the new Department of Special Programs in the Ministry of Public Service.

Another Raila ally, Carren Achieng, was appointed PS for Children Welfare Services, a newly established department in the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection.