- Ruto has argued that the high cost of living in Kenya can only be resolved by raising agricultural productivity.
- Machogu is expected to ensure the review of CBC accommodates concerns from parents, teachers and stakeholders in education sector.
The National Assembly will on Friday vet the second last batch of Cabinet nominees.
Among them is Eliud Owalo, the nominee for Information Communications and Digital Economy, Mithika Linturi (Agriculture and Livestock Development) and Ezekiel Machogu (Education).
Others are Ababu Namwamba (Youth Affairs, Sports and The Arts) and Rebecca Miano (East African Community, Arid and Semi-arid Lands and Regional Development).
Owalo boasts 21 years experience as an economist, management consultant and strategy expert with core competency in macro and micro economics.
He was a linchpin in Ruto's presidential campaign secretariat tasked with leading a key pillar central to the implementation of Ruto's agenda.
As the Cabinet Secretary for ICT, Owalo will be central in pushing the country's digital transformation plan.
The digital economy is seen as an enabler of Ruto's bottom-up economic revolution that will focus on building a solid financial base at the bottom of the economic pyramid.
With his huge education credential, the CS designate will be tasked with accelerating the growth and development of digital technology.
Owalo is pursuing a PhD in Strategic Management at the University of Nairobi.
He also holds a Master of Business Administration in Human Resources Management, from the same university.
Prior to that, he acquired a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics and Business Studies from Kenyatta University.
Kenya stands tall in the development of digital technology in Africa and the world and Owalo will be tasked with maintaining the trend.
He is also expected to reduce the cost of calls and data to allow wananchi, and especially the youth, to use online platforms for entertainment, information and business.
Owalo will further be expected to enhance government service delivery through digitisation and automation of all government critical processes.
Kenya Kwanza promised universal broadband availability throughout the country within five years.
The government has pledged to increase and fast-track broadband connectivity across the country by construction of 100,000km of national fibre optic connectivity network.
Kenya has invested heavily in ICT infrastructure and services over the last two decades.
This infrastructure includes six submarine fibre-optic cables offering broadband connectivity, 9000 kilometres of terrestrial fibre-optic cable connecting virtually all county headquarters and geographical and population mobile broadband coverage of 56 per cent of the 96 per cent respectively.
The government has further pledged to establish Africa Regional Hub and promote the development of software for export.
Mithika Linturi
Linturi will head a docket which Ruto says offers the quickest payback period for investments.
The President has argued that the high cost of living in Kenya can only be resolved by raising agricultural productivity.
The Kenya Kwanza manifesto cited edible oils, wheat and rice, which it said consume an equivalent of 25 per cent of goods export earnings, yet the country has the capacity to produce enough for the population.
Kenya Kwanza has so far committed an investment of not less than Sh250 billion in financial year 2023–27.
Reducing fertiliser prices to improve food production was among Ruto’s first pronouncements after he got into office.
Ruto lowered the prices of fertiliser from Sh6,500 for a 50-kilogramme bag to Sh3,500.
Kenya Kwanza has also promised to pump in Sh8.8 billion to revitalise the dairy sector.
Ezekiel Machogu
Machogu's first assignment would be perhaps to offer leadership in the review of the much-talked-about Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
He is expected to ensure the review accommodates the concerns of parents, teachers and stakeholders in the education sector.
Concerns around the implementation of the CBC include additional costs, inadequate training among teachers, limited number of staff, stretched learning facilities among others.
Kenya Kwanza government also plans to employ 58,000 teachers for Sh25 billion per year for two years to address the current shortage in the sector which stands at 116,000.
In the 2022-23 Budget, Kenya set a new record and allocated Sh544.4 billion, the biggest chunk of its Sh3.31 trillion budget, to education.
The government also plans to introduce a one to two-year paid National Internship Programme for all graduates.
Ababu Namwamba
The nominee will take up a docket which has often been accused of letting down the sports people.
The government has consistently been accused of not ensuring there is facilitation and provision of adequate resources for sporting activities.
Kenya Kwanza has promised Kenyans that they will never see their sportspeople stranded in foreign countries, or complaining about equipment, allowances and hospitality during competitions.
“Our international athletes should also never retire to a life of penury,” Ruto said during the launch of the Kenya Kwanza manifesto.
Kenya is an international giant in middle and long-distance athletics and rugby and also features in a wide range of sports.
Rebecca Miano
Miano will be tasked with actualising Ruto’s dream of free movement in the region.
The President is of the view that the East African Community will achieve its full potential if it eliminates restrictions inhibiting free trade and movement of citizens.
(Edited by Tabnacha O)