From being locked out of State House meeting to Worldcoin craze

A section of President William Ruto’s Cabinet had a rough time this week; from being lectured for being 'clueless' by their boss to being locked out of State House.

For some who like making trips out of the country, it was a stern warning to stop ‘changing clothes’ at the airport due to the numerous trips they make.

But before then, Health CS decided to take what she termed as "one government approach" and 'ordered' the transfer of Matisi OCS in Trans Nzoia county.

This attracted criticism as she was seen to have overstepped her mandate.

"In the government we serve, we are doing something called 'one-government approach'. It does not require the presence of (Interior CS Kithure Kindiki) to transfer the OSC in this area," Nakhumicha said.

"So I'm here and I'm giving an order, county commandant if you are here or you can hear me from wherever you are, by tomorrow (Sunday) the Matisi OCS should be gone."

However, a senior police officer who spoke to the Star said a transfer is not even mandated to a CS, as Article 245 of the Constitution is very clear.

Sources said she had been "pardoned by the concerned parties" after she personally reached out to them and apologized.

The CS is said to have called police bosses, her Interior colleague and the State House to apologise for her public statement last Saturday.

Just before the fuss could settle down, Interior CS Kithure Kindiki and his Trade and Industry counterpart Moses Kuria were on Tuesday locked out of a State House meeting by the President and failed to sign their performance contracts after they arrived late.

According to an official programme released by State House Press Secretary Emmanuel Talam, the event was to begin at exactly 8 am.

However, the President said they should not use traffic as an excuse.

“If you cannot keep time with your employer, you have basically dismissed yourself. It’s just as simple as that,” Ruto said.

“For those who came late who are members of the executive, I will be expecting a written explanation and it should not include matters of traffic, on why they do not take this performance contract seriously," he added.

Interior ministry’s head of communication Francis Gachuri did not respond to inquiries on Kindiki’s lateness.

It was the same for CS Kuria’s office too.

Then came a scramble by Kenyans to get a share of free money from Worldcoin just by having their eyeballs screened.

This however did not go well with Interior CS who suspended any Worldcoin activities in the country or any other entity that may be similarly engaging Kenyans.

Kindiki has revealed that relevant security, financial services and protection agencies have commenced inquiries and investigations to establish the authenticity and legality of the aforesaid activities.

"Also investigations of the safety and protection of the data being harvested, and how the harvesters intend to use the data is being looked at," he said.

His Foreign Affairs counterpart Alfred Mutua urged Kenyans to be cautious with their data after several people signed up for World Coin whose agenda is not clear.

He said Kenyans should not allow themselves to be used as experimental guinea pigs while their individual data is being collected.

"Let us all support the stoppage of Kenyans being used as Guinea Pigs and their data being harvested," Mutua said.

Environment CS Soipan Tuya on the other hand said her ministry is in the process of streamlining the charcoal trade in the country.

She said this was to ensure that it is conducted lawfully and in an environmentally sustainable manner by putting in place appropriate legal safeguards.

"We also commit to decriminalize charcoal trade, modernize and commercialize the charcoal value chain, promote youth-owned and operated briquette-making enterprises and support the scaling up of clean cooking," CS Tuya said on Thursday.

This comes even as the High Court on Wednesday slammed breaks on the Executive Order that lifted the ban on logging.

Education CS Ezekiel Machogu accompanied the President during the awarding of a charter to the Open University of Kenya.

Also present were Mutua, ICT CS Eliud Owalo, Tourism CS Penina Malonza and Lands CS Zachary Njeru.