By: Mwaura Elishifa
The 2010 constitution came to substitute appointment of cabinet Secretaries from Parliament to technocrats. They were to be appointed outside the Parliament. This was to ensure that the government appoints technocrats and not politicians into various ministries. The step was to improve the performance of ministries since the technocrats had skills to run various ministry unlike politicians who are always oriented by self-interest.
Over years, even after the 2010 constitution was implemented, the government continues to appoint politicians who actually are rejected by people in various seats, mostly in nomination stage. These politicians are asked to be loyal to the party and withdraw their bid in return they will be appointed for lucrative seats if their party forms the new government.
The jubilee government appointed some of politicians who failed to convince their people to be elected. For instance, CS Mutahi Kagwe of health and Peter Munya of agriculture were appointed even after failing to secure their respective gubernatorial seats.
As we are heading to the general election, various political coalitions have already promised CSs positions to a number of politicians. For instance, Azimio La Umoja- One Kenya led by Raila Odinga vowed to Ali Hassan Joho for ministry of land and to many another’s top leaders in the coalition. Also in Kenya Kwanza led by Dp Ruto pledged to ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi for prime cabinet secretary if they form next government.
This behaviour of appointing politicians does not guarantee performance to serve the public but instead, it installs loyalty among politicians. The act of giving politicians various lucrative seats had huge impact on February when IEBC asked for resignation to all who have political ambitions come the 9th of August 2022. A number of CSs and PSs resigned from work which left the jubilee government unstable. To avoid such scenario in future and others like corruption and CSs involving on politics, the next government should halt from appointing politicians into various government agencies and instead opt to technocrats.
Similar Posts by The Mt Kenya Times:
- Kanja puts recruits through their paces ahead of Kiganjo passing-out
- Humbelani Priscilla Nemanzemba: Building Africa’s entrepreneurial future, one business at a time
- Salary: The sweetest contraceptive ever invented
- The green tide: How Gachagua is reshaping Kenya’s political landscape ahead of 2027
- The power of small words
About the Author
