Outgoing Defence Cabinet Secretary (CS) Eugene Wamalwa has questioned why President William Ruto failed to name a Devolution CS.
Taking to his social media platforms, Wamalwa questioned the priority given by Ruto’s government to a docket that he once headed.
“But am at a loss as to what happens to Devolution, is it an oversight, or it is not a priority to this Administration?” he posed.
Kisumu governor Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o also faulted Ruto for leaving out the Devolution docket in his Cabinet.
According to the Kisumu county chief, Ruto defied the constitution for overlooking Devolution, noting that the country has two branches of government, the National and Devolved and that while the two are separate they are interdependent.
He further criticised the new Cabinet stating that it lacks equity and regional balance thus putting national unity in line.
“Having seen appointments to the Cabinet today, equity and regional balance, two components of National Unity, are prominent by their absence, What is even more striking is that Devolution is not given the prominence it deserves as a state
department on its own as is currently the case. The Constitution is very clear on this. We have two major branches of government in our Republic: national and devolved governments. Separate but interdependent. The President should have respected this principle in structuring his government,” his statement read.
The Devolution ministry has been without a CS after Charles Keter quit in February to vie for the Kericho governor position.
Eugene was the Devolution CS until September 2021, when he moved to the Defence which was held by Monica Juma who was moved to Energy.
The Ministry works with county governments to formulate policies, intergovernmental relations and capacity support.