In a move to legalise the position, which was declared unconstitutional by the High Court during President Uhuru Kenyatta's rule, Ruto now wants the office anchored in law.
Ruto wants clear-cut criteria established by the Public Service Commission on the recruitment of CASs as he reorganises his government.
The CASs will be recruited competitively by the PSC and subjected to parliamentary approval in what would signal a return of assistant ministers under the old Constitution.
The PSC said Ruto intends to retain the CAS position but by the provisions of Article 132(4)(a) of the Constitution.
“The President has proposed to establish the offices of Chief Administrative Secretary which will be offices in the public service and will be under the direction of Cabinet Secretaries,” PSC chairperson Anthony Muchiri, said in a press release on Wednesday.
Retired President Uhuru Kenyatta created the CAS position in January 2018 but the High Court declared it illegal in April 2021.
In his verdict, High Court judge Antony Mrima said there was no public participation in the decision to introduce CASs as assistants to Cabinet secretaries.
It remains to be seen if Ruto will give the positions to loyalists and Kenya Kwanza politicians who lost in August.
When it was introduced, politicians who supported Uhuru’s reelection but lost their political bids were rewarded with the CAS position.
In Uhuru’s administration, they were responsible for helping the Cabinet secretaries to coordinate the running of the affairs of their respective ministries.
Muchiri said the PSC will recommend persons to hold the position for appointment through a competitive recruitment process that shall culminate in nomination by the President and vetting by the National Assembly.
The mandate of the holders of the office will include responding to issues touching on the portfolio assigned to the office, providing liaison with the National Assembly and Senate, and providing liaison with county governments on matters of concurrent and common interest.
They will also provide inter-ministerial-sectoral coordination, representing the Cabinet secretary at meetings as instructed by the minister and execute any other duties and responsibilities specifically assigned to the office in furtherance of the interests of the ministry.
Applicants interested in the CAS position will be required to possess a bachelor’s degree from a recognised university and have excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
Interested candidates have until October 6 to apply.
In the last administration, several election losers and Jubilee loyalists were rewarded with the position.
Rachel Shebesh, who contested for Nairobi woman representative and lost, was appointed as CAS in the Public Service, Youth and Gender Affairs ministry while Hussein Dado, who lost his Tana River governor seat to ODM’s Dadho Godana, was appointed Devolution CAS.
Former Budalang’i MP Ababu Namwamba was named CAS in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs while Winnie Guchu, a former commissioner at the Judicial Service Commission and the Interim Independent Electoral Boundaries Commission, was appointed CAS in the Ministry of Water and Sanitation.
Former Kisii Senator Chris Obure was appointed to the position at the Ministry of Transport while Former Subukia MP Nelson Gaichuhie was at the National Treasury.
Former West Pokot Governor Simon Kachapin was in the ministry of Education, Former Kilifi North MP Gideon Mung’aro (Lands) and former Isiolo South MP Abdul Bahari (Devolution and ASALs).
After a gruesome campaign period, Ruto is now faced with a tough balancing act in naming his Cabinet, which will have a maximum of 22 members.
One of his campaign pledges was to set aside half of the Cabinet positions for women.
He is also said to be looking to get loyalists from Parliament to join the Cabinet.
Supporters and Kenya Kwanza members are intensely lobbying for Cabinet secretary, principal secretary and CAS jobs and positions in parastatals, Office of the President, Office of the Deputy President, Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary and other government institutions.
Former Nominated Senator Mary Seneta is hoping to land a Cabinet secretary job in the new government.
Seneta, who unsuccessfully contested for the Kajiado East MP seat on the UDA ticket, told the Star she is suited to represent women in Ruto’s administration.
“I fought for women's rights and pushed their agenda when I was in Parliament. A Cabinet position will give me the platform to continue with it,” she said.
Former Laikipia Woman Representative Cate Waruguru is demanding a Cabinet secretary position.
She said Laikipia overwhelmingly voted for Ruto and helped him defeat his nemesis, Raila Odinga.
Speaking on Wednesday in Laikipia, Waruguru said the devolved unit gave Ruto some 300,000 votes and thus the need for the head of state to return the favour.
“We are asking you because it is our vote that has made you the President, give us our dignity and give us a “flag” in Laikipia,” she said.
Edited by Kiilu Damaris
