Jitters continue to rock Kenya Kwanza coalition devotees as the President William Ruto and his Deputy Rigathi Gachagua prepare to appoint Cabinet Secretaries.
Those appointed will be forced to relinquish their respective party positions.
The constitution is very clear exempting only the President, Deputy President and Parliamentarians as they are elected through universal suffrage as stipulated in the constitution.
According to Article 77(2) of the constitution “Any appointed state officer shall not hold office in a political party,” with section 1 of the Article further provides that a full-time state officer shall not participate in any other gainful employment.
Among those on the list of being awarded with appointive positions include Ford Kenya Party leader Moses Masika Wetangula who already occupies the third most powerful office in the country; the Speaker of the National Assembly and Amani National Congress (ANC)’s Musalia Mudavadi who is poised to take the prime Cabinet Secretary position.
Others include former National Assembly speaker Justin Muturi of Democratic Party (DP), Alfred Mutua of Maendeleo Chap Chap (MCC), Chama Cha Kazi (CCK)’s Moses Kuria, Irungu Nyakera, Former principle secretary of Farmers Party (FP) and Isaac Abey of Economic Freedom Party (EFP).
According the Office of Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) the office is yet to receive any of the mentioned positions and individuals.
Sources revealed that the Ford Kenya leader had vacated office, though reports by the deputy party leader Millicent Abudho claimed that “Papa wa Roma” was still party official.
The law is clear as it allows the appointees to remain members of the party though not holding any party position.
Sentiments echoed by lawyer Danston Omari who confirmed that a public office holder cannot double up with politics as it will lead to conflict of interests.
“Article 77 is very categorical that you cannot hold two offices as a state officer. Officials of political parties have to relinquish their positions in those parties for them to take up the appointive positions,” Omari observed.