President Ruto nominates 10 women to Cabinet positions

President William Ruto has nominated 10 women to his Cabinet, with seven picked for Cabinet Secretary positions and three to Cabinet-level portfolios.

He announced 22 appointments to Cabinet Secretary positions and four with Cabinet-level portfolios.

President Ruto made the announcement on Tuesday at State House, Nairobi.

The women Cabinet Secretaries are Alice Wahome (Water), Aisha Jumwa (Public Service), Rebecca Miano (EAC, Arid and Semi-arid lands), Soipan Tuya (Environment), Susan Wafula (Health), Peninah Malonza (Tourism) and Florence Bore (Labour and Social protection).

The three women assigned Cabinet-level portfolios are Monica Juma (National Security Advisor), Harriet Chiggai (Women rights agency advisor) and Mercy Wanjau (Secretary to the Cabinet).

 Wahome, a strong Ruto ally, is the former MP for Kandara.

 Jumwa who is the immediate former Woman Representative for Kilifi had unsuccessfully run for the Kilifi governor seat on a UDA ticket, but lost to ODM’s Gideon Mung’aro.

 Miano, a lawyer by training, has worked at the helm of KenGen as the chief executive officer.

Malonza is the former Deputy Governor for Kitui, while Bore is the former Woman Representative for Kericho.

 Juma served in former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s government in several capacities, with the last being as Cabinet Secretary for Energy and Petroleum. She was at the helm during a fuel shortage earlier this year, a time at which she warned companies against hoarding the commodity. She has also previously served as the Principal Secretary for Defence and Foreign Affairs.

 Chiggai, an advocate, had applied for the position of IEBC commissioner last year, but was unsuccessful.