Garissa elders, professionals laud Ruto for appointments

A section of Elders and Professional groups together with Elected leaders from Garissa on Friday thanked president William Ruto for appointing some of their own to the Cabinet.

Speaking to the press at Aden Duale as CS defence and Abdi Dubat as principal secretary for the state department for East Africa community.

Duale who has served as MP for 15 years and who has already assumed office was the only nominee who was picked from Northeastern in Ruto’s cabinet.

On the other hand, Dubat an accountant by profession, who also hails from Garissa county was among the brains behind the Garissa economic forum.

He played an integral role in the formation of the Kenya Kwanza manifesto commonly referred to as the ‘Plan’.

Led by Abdullahi Haji, a retired educationist who read the statement, they said that the appointments were a clear indication that the president was determined to form an inclusive government.

“On behalf of the Garissa county community, we the elders, professionals, youth women and political leaders have met here today to express our appreciation for his excellency as the president. We don’t take these appointments for granted,” said Haji.

He added:

“In nominating Dubat you have made a perfect choice. You have got a brilliant professional, hardworking, and noble person who will not let you down."

On his part, Iftin Ward MCA Musdaf Abdirashid thanked the president for keeping his word to nominate young professionals who have worked their way up the education and career from bottom to up.

“On behalf of elected leaders from Garissa county we want to sincerely thank the president and assure him that he has our unequivocal support and we will not only support his government but work with him in ensuring that he delivers on his pledges to Kenyans."

Khalif Nunde on his part urged the people of Northeastern and Kenyans at large to rally behind the president and his government terming it as all-inclusive.

On his part former Ijara MCA Mohamed Abdullahi expressed confidence that Dubat will serve the interest of the country and that of the East Africa region.

“Now that Ruto’s government is almost complete with the appointment of PSs who are vetted and approved by parliament, we expect them to get down to the real business of offering services to the people,” he said.

He added:

“They should use the God-given opportunity to serve Kenyans diligently and with utmost honesty and a high level of integrity because Kenyans expect nothing short of that. The president will also be looking up to them to assist him in implementing his manifesto,” he said.

Others from the region who were appointed were Ummy Mohammed Bashir [State Department for Culture & Heritage and Ismail Madey [State Department for Youth Affairs] from Wajir and Mandera counties respectively.