Kenya Kwanza and Azimio One Kenya coalition this weekend retreated for their first parliamentary group meetings in Naivasha and Machakos respectively.
Ruto’s camp while in Naivasha, besides the parliamentary leadership, other key topical issues on the agenda included the new cabinet nomination as key alliance names and confidants missed on the parliamentary leadership list.
Ruto had earlier indicated that he will not outsource leadership personnel ahead of his impending Cabinet naming from the opposition camp.
“Kenya Kwanza Parliamentary Leadership will be as follows at the National Assembly which shall have Kimani Ichugwa as Majority Leader, Owen Baya as the Deputy Majority Leader with Chief whip position slated for Sylvanus Osoro to be deputised by Naomi Waqo. At the Senate, Aaron Cheruiyot will be the coalition’s Majority Leader deputised by Tabitha karanja with Kakamega’s Bonny Khalwale as Chief whip to be assisted by Samburu’s Ltumbesi Lelegwe,” read the statement.
This clearly signalled that the President had preserved the key loyalist lawmakers to join him in running the Executive as revealed by the 12th Parliament Majority Leader, Garissa Township MP Aden Duale alluding that he is likely to be in Ruto’s Cabinet.
“I am going to be in the Executive,” Duale affirmed.
Sources also reveal that either of Kiharu Member of Parliament Ndindi Nyoro and his Kandara counterpart Alice Wahome will resign to join the Cabinet council.
Elgeyo-Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen, previously serving as Senate Majority Leader before he was shown exit dore in 2020 for what was termed a rebel to president Uhuru’s ideologies follow the duo split with his deputy is also expected to resign and join the nomination list.
Sentiments echoed by Kimili Member of Parliament Didmus Barasa who asserts himself to being among the right-hand men of the 5th Chief in Command of the Republic of Kenya.
“It is correct that Duale and Murkomen are going to join the Cabinet. One of the constituencies in Murang’a County will also have a by-election but Kenyans should relax and wait,” Barasa observed.
Key contenders for the Cabinet slots include Ababu Namwamba, former National Speaker Justin Muturi, Maendeleo Chap Chap leader Alfred Mutua, former Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya, Eliud Owalo former Turkana Governor Josephat Nanok, UDA chairman Johnson Muthama and Chama Cha Kazi boss Moses Kuria.
As a result, the nominations might birth a number of by-elections to be conducted by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) the end of this year or early next year.
Bungoma county dwellers are already in momentum for a mini-poll before the end of the year following Ford Kenya leader Moses Wetang’ula election as the Speaker of the National Assembly after his resignation as Senator.