Devolution Cabinet Secretary Charles Keter has resigned to vie for the Kericho on Deputy Presidential William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party ticket.
Keter becomes the first cabinet member to quit and says he is better placed to serve, citing his vast experience in government.
“I am resigning from my office in government to focus my energy on contesting for the seat of the county of Kericho,” he told a press conference at Treasury buildings.
Keter joined the Cabinet in December 2015 after resigning as Kericho Senator following his nomination by President Uhuru Kenyatta.
“I wish to sincerely thank His Excellency the President for according me the opportunity to serve in his cabinet since 2015 when he nominated me to join his government,” Keter said.
He was allocated the lucrative energy docket which he retained after the 2017 General Election but was later moved to a water down Devolution Ministry amid escalating fights in the governing Jubilee Party pitting President Kenyatta against his Deputy William Ruto.
He later moved to the devolution docket in September 2021 following a reshuffle which coincided with the scaling down of the ministry’s portfolio that saw the State Department for ASALs domiciled in the Ministry of Devolution moved to the Ministry of Public Service and Gender.
During his tenure as the Energy CS, Keter said electricity access increased to over 75 per cent.
His resignation is in line with the requirements of the Elections Act 2011, which requires public servants seeking elective positions to step down from their roles at least six months to the General Election.
On February 3, President Uhuru Kenyatta ordered civil servants eying elective seats in the August polls to resign.
Other government officials who have resigned include Transport CAS Wavinya Ndeti and State House Chief of Staff Nzioka Waita, both of whom are seeking the Machakos Governor’s seat.
