• On Monday, he will be the first to face the National Assembly Committee on Appointments for vetting.
• Other nominees to be vetted on Monday include Justin Muturi (Attorney General), Aden Duale (Defence), Alfred Mutua (Foreign and Diaspora Affairs) and Alice Wahome (Water, Sanitation and Irrigation).
Image: FILE
After spending more than 10 years outside government, ANC party leader Musalia Mudavadi is expected to make a comeback.
On Monday, he will be the first to face the National Assembly Committee on Appointments for vetting, as he seeks to be approved for the Prime Cabinet Secretary position.
Other nominees to be vetted on Monday include former Speaker of the National Assembly Justin Muturi who is the nominee for Attorney General, Aden Duale (Defence), Alfred Mutua (Foreign and Diaspora Affairs) and Alice Wahome (Water, Sanitation and Irrigation).
In the August 9 General election, he backed the candidature of President William Ruto and the gamble is paying off, despite his western region being an opposition stronghold.
He is the first nominee set to be vetted by Parliament in Ruto’s list of 22 nominees for Cabinet positions in the proposed Kenya Kwanza structure of government.
However, the creation of the position of Prime Cabinet Secretary by the President in his first Executive order has been questioned. The opposition has raised concern over its legality given that it’s not enshrined in the constitution.
On Thursday last week, National Assembly minority leader Opiyo Wandayi alleged unconstitutionality of the Office on a matter that the Speaker of the National Assembly who chairs the Committee on Appointments will rule on before the vetting exercise commences.
Mudavadi’s Spokesperson Kibisu Kabatesi has, however, rubbished sentiments by the minority leader, stating that clear guidelines are entrenched in the Constitution on the creation of public offices.
"The issue of unconstitutionality does not arise because the President has the prerogative to structure and cabinet in the manner he deems fit. There are clear provisions in the Constitution and the National Government Coordination Act that guided the President. The Executive Order No 1 of 2022 is clear on the portfolio," Kabatesi said.
“The period of campaign mischief is over and Hon Opiyo Wandayi ought to settle down in his role as the Minority Leader in the National Assembly and focus on substantive matters of National Importance. Petty jealousies don’t fit his stature.”
Political analysts have also said that the president is within his limits in creating the positions, adding that Mudavadi’s role should he be approved is clearly spelled out.
Alutalala Mukwana added that Mudavadi is the right fit-for-purpose for that office since he will be the linkage between the Executive and the Legislature in ensuring that the policies of the Kenya Kwanza Government are fully actualized through legislation.
“The docket of Prime Cabinet Secretary entails coordination, evaluation, monitoring and implementation. As designated, it will be the fulcrum upon which delivery of public services will be measured, and therefore where upon public trust will be cultivated,” he said.
Article 132(2) (a), Article 132 (3) {b} and {c} of the Kenyan Constitution confers authority on the President to direct and co-ordinate the functions of Ministries, State Departments, and State Agencies under which his powers as the President lie in the process of appointing Cabinet Secretaries.
Image: WILLIAM RUTO
Prof Peter Kagwanja also said that, “Character is key in terms of how one delivers on the assigned task. Musalia Mudavadi has been known to be a safe pair of hands, humble, trustworthy, a focused leader and diplomatic. These are key attributes for effective delivery of the job at hand. Musalia Mudavadi is the best bet for coordination.”
Under the Executive Order No.1 of 2022, President William Ruto clearly designated the roles for the holder of the Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary including handling the Government Delivery Unit. Other than assisting the President and the Deputy President in the co-ordination and supervision of Government Ministries and State Departments, key roles for the Prime Cabinet Secretary include;
Liaising with the ministry of Interior and National Administration in overseeing the implementation of National Government policies, programmes and projects together with chairing and coordinating National Government legislative agenda across all ministries and state departments for transmission to coalition leaders in Parliament.
Mudavadi will also be tasked with chairing the Principal Secretaries Committees and supervising the technical monitoring and evaluation of Government policies, programs and projects.
The last position Mudavadi held in government was that of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Local Government between 2008 to 2013 in the Grand Coalition Government during late President Mwai Kibaki’s tenure.
The one-time Finance Minister, Mudavadi promises that a Kenya Kwanza government would prioritise revamping the economy and lowering cost of basic items.
He is remembered for his steadfast leadership at Treasury in the early 1990s when he convinced donors to resume aid to Kenya after they had placed sanctions on Kenya over claims of massive corruption and violation of human rights.
Mudavadi, who has been in politics for 33 years, made his political debut in 1989 when he was elected to Parliament as MP for Sabatia at the age of 29 years in a by-election following the death of his father, Moses Mudavadi.
He has previously served in cabinet for 18 years including portfolios at Agriculture, Finance, Transport, Information and Broadcasting as well as Local Government in addition to serving as Vice-President.