President Uhuru Kenyatta yesterday drastically stripped the Ministry of Devolution of some functions and moved Energy CS Charles Keter to the docket.
In yesterday’s Cabinet reshuffle, Keter’s position at the Ministry of Energy was assigned to CS Monica Juma who was moved from the Ministry of Defence.
Juma was moved to the defence docket in January 2020 after a similar reshuffle in which she switched roles with current Foreign Affairs CS Raychelle Omamo.
Devolution CS Eugene Wamalwa now takes over as Defence Cabinet Secretary.
Wamalwa’s reassignment is seen as a strategic move by the President to have a man he trusts take charge at the helm of the crucial docket as the country prepares for a transition next year.
In changes announced by State House, the giant devolution portfolio was scaled down as the State Department of Asals was moved to the Ministry of Public Service and Gender.
The department was established in 2018 to coordinate the overall planning and development policies targeting arid and semi-arid lands.
Leaders from the Asal areas yesterday welcomed the President's decision to transfer the functions to the Ministry of Public Service and Gender.
"We believe in the fullness of time, the idea will open up greater benefits to the people, generate a pool of opportunities and activate immense benefits in the region," Eldas MP Adan Keynan said.
Keynan, who is Jubilee coalition's joint parliamentary secretary, urged public officers in the department to work closely with stakeholders to activate the benefits of the department for residents of the vast Asal community.
He said the department should ensure prompt release of the equalisation fund that has stagnated over the years.
Also clipped in the latest changes was the Ministry of Labour under Samson Chelugui, a key ally of Deputy President William Ruto.
The powerful docket of social protection, pensions and senior citizens will now be domiciled at the Public Service ministry.
The department runs a budget with billions of shillings annually under the National Safety Net Programme through three cash transfer programmes for Orphans and Vulnerable Children, Older Persons Cash Transfer and People With Severe Disabilities Cash Transfer.
Nelson Marwa was retained as the PS for the docket but will now report to Public Service CS Margret Kobia. This means Chelugui has now been left handling human capital issues.
The President moved Gordon Kihalangwa from the state department of Public Works to take over as new Energy Principal Secretary.
Energy PS Joseph Njoroge has been moved to be the Transport docket, while Solomon Kitungu moves to takes over from Kihalangwa.
There are reports that the President has lined up more Cabinet changes in the coming weeks as he seeks to shake up his administration in readiness for next year’s polls.
Some of the CSs and top government officials eyeing elective seats next year are likely to be relieved of their duties to enable them to concentrate on their campaigns.
Keter’s exit from the Energy docket was notable.
It came hours after Uhuru received a report submitted by a presidential taskforce on the review of power purchase agreements. It was appointed in March.
The report recommended wide-ranging reforms to bring down the cost of electricity.
“The consequence of the proposed interventions is that a consumer who previously spent Sh500 per month on electricity shall by December 31, 2021, pay Sh330 per month,” a statement released by the President’s Press Office indicated.
“This cost reduction will be achieved through the reduction of the consumer tariffs from an average of Sh24 per kilowatt hour to Sh16 per kWh,which is about two-thirds of the current tariff,” State House said.
The task force chaired by Kenya Pipeline Company board of director chairman John Ngumi also recommended the cancellation of all unconcluded power purchase agreements.
The Kenya Power and Lighting Company will be required to take a leading role in the formulation of power purchase agreements with independent power producers in future under a new framework proposed by the task force.
Kenya Power is also expected to undertake a forensic audit on procurement and system losses resulting from heavy fuel oils, and list beneficial owners of independent power producers in its annual reports.
-Edited by SKanyara
