MACHARIA MUNENE: 50 CASs wastage of public money

The position of Chief Administrative Secretary is equivalent to that of assistant minister.

I believe it’s appropriate to have the CASs because of the roles they play.

But the big question is the number of CASs that we need.

Did we need 50 CASs to serve as assistant ministers to 22 Cabinet secretaries? The president has appointed up to three CASs in one ministry.

That is not justifiable and that is why people feel it is a wastage of public resources.

What the President has done is good in terms of political relevance. He has rewarded those who are loyal to him and those who campaigned for him.

To that extent, he is right.

But for the national interest, he did not serve the interests of the public.

Maybe he could have appointed 22 or 24. That would have been justifiable. But 50 is not justifiable. It is a wastage of public resources.

People who are complaining are justified because it appears it is a wastage of public money.

Also, the competencies of some of the people the President has appointed are questionable.

They are unlikely to deliver to the people of Kenya.

As it is, some of the CSs the President appointed appear clueless about the work they are supposed to do as we have not seen much happening in their ministries.

This makes it very difficult for the President to deliver.

There is a feeling among Kenyans that they are yet to see what some Cabinet secretaries are doing.

The CSs have not touched base with the real government – those who have been there for long to understand how government runs.

So, it appears to some people that they have no clue and that reflects badly on this government.

So, the quality of the people the President is appointing and the number of people he is appointing are serious concerns.

Many people feel the country is moving backwards instead of moving ahead.

 The university lecturer spoke to the Star