Inside Raila's dream Cabinet

Raila has publicly told supporters to allow some of the bigwigs in his presidential campaign team to work with him at the national level.

His calculated pronouncements in strategic regions have dropped hints of what his Cabinet will look like should he win the presidency.

In some instances, Raila has openly asked politicians to drop their ambitions and form part of his army to traverse the country for votes.

Political analyst Martin Andati said Raila's words on the campaign trail are, indeed, a hint of who will be in the Cabinet, who will be presidential advisers and heads of key state corporations.

“The numbers are increasing every day. The grand question is where he will get the positions to give all these people,” he said.

The anointments signal Raila could take a completely different course in appointing his Cabinet to populate it with politicians and a few technocrats.

The lot has been asked to wait for ‘rewards’ should Azimio assume power after the August 9 presidential vote.

A number of presumed Cabinet appointees have chosen not to run, following Raila's calls.

Details gleaned by the Star from Raila’s pronouncements and interviews with his inner circle give a snapshot of the dream team.

Meantime, players within the Azimio camp intensify the jostling for plum appointments in Raila’s government.

During his announcement of running mate Martha Karua, Raila handed the Justice and Constitutional Affairs docket to the Narc Kenya party boss. But the Constitution says the Deputy President cannot hold any other position.

He also named some Cabinet ministers in his government. They include  Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya (National Treasury), Peter Munya (Agriculture) and Hassan Joho (Lands).

Kisii Governor James Ongwae is tipped to be head of Public Service.

Raila has been dropping more hints on formation of his government.

On Wednesday, he left no doubt that outgoing Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu is headed to Afya House as the country’s next Health Cabinet Secretary. She dropped her reelection bid.

"Whoever you elect, whether it is Malombe or Musila, it will be you (Kitui voters) to decide because I want to send Ngilu to Nairobi," Raila said.

A face-off among Ngilu, Wiper’s Julius Malombe and David Musila of Jubilee for Kitui governor was argued as unhelpful for Azimio’s stakes in Eastern.

During the launch of the Azimio Manifesto last month at Nyayo Stadium, Ngilu was allowed to make a presentation about Raila's agenda in the health sector.

She served as Health Minister in President Uhuru Kenyatta's first term.

The Star has established intense haggling and horse-trading are underway within the Azimio campaign team and among President Uhuru Kenyatta’s men and women.

Some of Uhuru's Cabinet members may be retained in Raila’s government for continuity of the President's legacy.

Raila's manifesto calls for securing administrative continuity to complete the President's agenda.

Apart from Munya, Interior’s Fred Matiang'i, Treasury’s Ukur Yatani and ICT’s Joe Mucheru are expected to be retained in Raila's government.

Former Water CS Sicily Kariuki, who resigned to run for Nyandarua governor, would also make a comeback after she was persuaded to drop her bid.

"I have told Uhuru she (Sicily) should continue with work in Nairobi and he has agreed. Equally, we have agreed she will serve in the Azimio government when we win," Raila said while touring the region in April.

Raila recently told Western voters  he’d also have Defence CS Eugene Wamalwa as part of his government. Eugene is associated with the DAP-K party affiliated with Azimio.

“Eugene is my point-person and will be part of my government,” the former Prime Minister told residents of Saboti on May 27.

Earlier, Raila had also earlier mentioned former National Assembly Speaker Kenneth Marende as the Speaker-designate.

Former UNCTAD secretary general Mukhisa Kituyi is also a notable figure from Western touted as a possible pick for the Cabinet.

Kituyi, who dropped his presidential ambitions to support Raila, could be the next Trade CS in the Azimio government.

Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka has been assured of being named Chief Minister should the jumbo coalition win the presidency.

Most of those being touted are ethnic kingpins. Perhaps he is wooing them to his side momentarily in order to win the election

An observation of the people who regularly accompany Raila on his campaign tours could also give a glimpse of the likely faces in the Cabinet.

Among those likely to get top seats are Suna East MP Junet Mohamed, former Gatanga MP Peter Kenneth and Mombasa businessman Suleiman Shahbal.

Others are former Cabinet Secretary without portfolio Raphael Tuju, Suba South MP John Mbadi, former Head of Public Service Sally Kosgei and Dr Stephen Tarus.

Shahbal is among the bigwigs who chose not to run and paved the way for Mvita MP Abdulswamad Nassir to fly the ODM flag for the Mombasa governorship.

"The first by-election will be in Suna East to pave the way for a major appointment for Junet in the Executive," a high-ranking Azimio official said.

Political analysts say the display could be two-pronged, and that the number has since been growing yet the Constitution only provides for 22 Cabinet slots.

Prof Olang Sana, a political science and international relations lecturer at Maseno University, said the display could be the former Prime Minister’s strategy to win the elections.

“There is no way Ngilu and Kalonzo can be in the same Cabinet, hence, the display must be something beyond the obvious,” the don said.

Prof Olang said Raila could as well be seeking to have the named persons in his government represent Kenya’s diversity.

“Raila has been promising some other positions. Cabinet slots are limited to 22. It is possible he’d have some of the old faces in the Cabinet,” Prof Olang said.

Andati said some of those tipped for plum jobs have also seen it wise to seize the opportunity at this stage rather than wait until the outcomes of their electoral aspirations.

“Someone like Ngilu was losing ground so for her it could be a smart way of walking out of the Kitui governor contest.

“She has not been campaigning in the county as she has always been with Martha Karua. Ngilu can now comfortably say she sacrificed her ambitions in Raila’s favour,” Andati said.

Mucheru has been in the eye of a storm in the face of attacks by DP Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza team accusing him of being part of a plot to interfere with election results.

The ICT Cabinet Secretary recently kicked off a storm after wide circulation of a video of him talking about plans to work for Raila's campaign and that they were in control and were sure of victory.

Matiang'i was present at the introduction of Karua as Raila's running mate, indicating he could be in position for a role in the next government.

The CSs, political observers say, could be working their way into the incoming administration.

Ruto’s UDA party has complained to the IEBC about Mucheru's comments.

Ruto’s team dismissed the apparent early signals of appointments, saying it confirmed the fears they have held about Azimio being about ‘sharing positions’.

“They should focus because the people — the hustler nation — will, as is always the case, have the final say,” Garissa Township MP Aden Duale said.

He said it defeats logic that the ODM leader was naming Cabinet Secretaries before the election has been held.

(Edited by V. Graham)

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