Wajir North MP Ibrahim Saney speaking in Hagadera./STEPHEN ASTARIKOTwo MPs from the North East have criticised some Cabinet Secretaries, saying they have not adequately championed the government’s agenda.
In an unusual move, the two, Salah Yakub of Fafi and his Wajir North counterpart Ibrahim Saney, both elected through the UDA party, shared their frustration, saying the CSs had left the burden entirely on President William Ruto.
According to the two, some CSs appear to have taken a back seat at a time when their involvement is crucial.
The two spoke in Hagadera, Fafi subcounty while in the company of National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula who was in the area as the chief guest to commission several projects undertaken by the CDF kitty.
Yakub said some of the CSs were undermining Ruto’s government from within, calling on the President to take action.
He claimed certain CSs were neglecting their duties by not being available to attend to the needs and concerns of citizens. Their absence, he argued, was weakening the President’s efforts.
“Truth be told there is a very big problem with some CS who are working in this government. We have seen CSs who are always abroad attending to their personal issues leaving their offices empty. Who then is supposed to attend to people's needs?” Yakub asked.
“When Kenyans walk into government offices and cannot find the people who are supposed to serve them, that is not just incompetence, it is sabotage,” he added.
Yakub said he would not hesitate to name the officials he believes are frustrating the administration’s progress if the trend continues.
Saney expressed similar views, calling on the non-performing CSs to improve, warning that their conduct risks weakening President Ruto’s development plan and could ultimately affect his re-election bid.
“Of the 22 CSs, only three are working. They are CSs Aden Duale, Davis Chirchir and Kipchumba Murkomen. The rest are inaccessible; they are arrogant. They are doing nothing to help deliver the promises made by the President,” Saney claimed.
He further asked the government to wake up and move with speed to deliver on its development promises before the end of its term.
Saney said despite being elected on a UDA ticket, he has nothing to show in Wajir North in terms of tangible development.
He cited the livestock and energy sectors—critical to the region’s economy—as some of the most neglected areas, saying no meaningful interventions have been rolled out.
“It is regrettable despite being a UDA MP, I have nothing to tell my people in terms of development projects initiated. I can't point a finger to any project from the national government to convince them that this is their government that has delivered. There is none,” he said.
“Three years down the line, nothing has been done on livestock; this is despite our livelihoods depending on livestock. It is time they know that we only have one and a half years to deliver on our promises. If the trend continues this way, this Cabinet will let down the President,” he added.
He called on the government to urgently realign its priorities, fast-track pending projects and demonstrate seriousness in fulfilling its commitments to pastoralist counties, saying as a community, they will not blindly follow the masses but will instead vote for the government based on what it is doing for them.
