•Bishop Welimo said that as a church they are confident that those picked will serve the country diligently.
•He told the Star that it was impossible for Ruto to name the cabinet secretaries from all the 47 counties since the positions were only 22.
Religious leaders drawn from Mulembe Nation have lauded President William Ruto for considering gender balance and sons and daughters from the Luhya community in his cabinet.
President Ruto named twenty two individuals who will serve in his cabinet on Tuesday.
The names have since been forwarded to the national assembly for vetting and approval.
Among those selected are Musalia Mudavadi from Vihiga County who will be the prime cabinet secretary, Ababu Namwamba from Busia who will head the sports ministry and Susan Wafula Nakhumicha from Trans Nzoia who will head the health docket.
Addressing the press in Bungoma town on Friday, the religious leaders led by Chairman of Western region Clergy Association Bishop Samuel Welimo said that the cabinet is a true reflection of the face of the country.
"His Excellency the president has really tried to ensure that gender and regional balance has been captured in the unveiling of the cabinet secretaries, something that the church is proud of," he said.
Bishop Welimo said that as a church, they are confident that those picked will serve the country diligently.
Bishop Welimo told the Star that it was impossible for Ruto to name the cabinet secretaries from all the 47 counties since the positions were only 22.
He however noted that it was possible for the president to take a cabinet secretary from each religion in the country.
"As religious leaders we are praying that may God give the selected individuals the knowledge and wisdom for them to help the president deliver on the Kenya kwanza campaigns pledges,” he said.
He said that the national assembly should move with speed and approve the names for the cabinet secretaries to begin working since the country was facing a myriad of challenges that needed to be addressed urgently.
"It’s impossible for the president to satisfy everyone but it's possible for him to do what he thinks can move this nation to another level in terms of development,” he said.
He said that the appointments will help bring development and revive the Western region's ailing economy.
"As residents of western region we now expect those picked to serve in the government to help set up an airport in this region as we had proposed in the economic forums we had before polls with the president," he said.
He also asked the picked individuals from the region to move with speed and revive the ailing factories like Nzoia and Mumias sugar factories that are on their deathbed.
He also asked them to ensure they work together to bring the region's leaders closer to achieve the elusive Luhya unity.
"As a church we once again would like to congratulate those picked and wish them well in their duties,” he said.
"We pray that God will give them knowledge and wisdom to deliver the bottom up economic model's agenda to our people."