Duale, Murkomen and Wahome to resign for Cabinet posts

At least three Members of Parliament in President-elect William Ruto's camp will resign to take up Cabinet posts, the Star can reveal.

Garissa Township MP Aden Duale, Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen and Kandara MP Alice Wahome will quit as MPs once named as Cabinet Secretaries.

Ruto, who will on Tuesday take oath of office as the country's fifth president, is expected to unveil his 22-member Cabinet before the end of the week.

He is also expected to reorganise government through his first Executive Order as President and commander-in-chief.

The three influential MPs are some of Ruto's allies who paid the price after President Kenyatta launched a ruthless political war against his deputy immediately after the 'handshake' in 2018.

Duale was unceremoniously ejected as National Assembly majority leader in early 2020 as President Kenyatta moved to whittle down Ruto's influence in Parliament.

It was the same case for Murkomen who was the first one in the DP's team to lose his powerful position as Senate majority leader in radical changes instigated to cut Ruto down to size.

“It appears that there will be a few by-elections in the country because some MPs will be tapped into the Kenya Kwanza Cabinet,” a high-ranking member in Ruto's camp said. 

Wahome, a key critic of President Kenyatta, is among the founders of Ruto's United Democratic Alliance party.

The lawyer and seasoned politician took Uhuru by the horns as the falling out with the DP turned nasty and dramatic.

Sources privy to the President-elect's programme told the Star that Ruto will unveil his dream team before leaving for New York for his first ever foreign trip as Kenya's Commander-In-Chief.

The President-elect will jet out of the country for his debut at the 77th session of the UN General Assembly in the United States.

The session will kick off on Tuesday, the day Ruto will be sworn in to take over from President Uhuru Kenyatta, with September 20 being the first day of the high-level general assembly.

The UNGA 77 runs between September 13 and 27.

Duale, Wahome and Murkomen resignations are set to trigger by-elections in their respective electoral areas with voters expected to pick their replacements.

The three politicians are high-ranking members of Ruto's inner circle who were instrumental in the Kenya Kwanza presidential campaigns.

They accompanied Ruto, Musalia Mudavadi and Moses Wetang'ula in almost all presidential campaigns across the country as the President-elect crafted a team of regional heavyweights.

They are also senior members of Ruto's party on whose ticket he romped to State House at the first attempt despite all odds, including an aggressive opposition from Uhuru.

The outgoing President backed Azimio presidential candidate Raila Odinga, Ruto's main rival in last month's presidential contest.

Because of the need to have a strong representation of UDA in parliamentary leadership, Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro who also hails from Murang'a county as is Wahome, will remain in Parliament.

The vibrant and straight shooting second-term lawmaker was touted to be among those who would make it to Ruto's Cabinet.

“Nyoro will be a key cog of Kenya Kwanza in Parliament, he was one of the pioneers of the Hustler nation and understands our agenda. He will team up with Kimani Ichung'wa(Kikuyu MP) to push for our policies,”  another MP aware of the plans said. 

Ichung'wa is tipped to becomed the National Assembly majority leader, a post Duale held before he was unceremoniously kicked out at the height of Ruto's falling out with President Kenyatta.

Big names have been touted for Cabinet slots, including former Tharaka Senator Kithure Kindiki, former National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi, former Kwale governor Salim Mvurya and Ezekiel Machogu.

Others include Aisha Jumwa, Alfred Mutua, Mithika Linturi and Moses Kuria, among others.

Ruto is also expected to bring on board more women after he promised them half of his Cabinet.

(edited by Amol Awuor)