In an executive order on Friday morning, President Uhuru Kenyatta replaced Sports Cabinet Secretary Rashid Echesa with Amina Mohamed who was moved from the Education ministry.
However, the move has brought about mixed reactions from different Western Kenya leaders.
Mumias East MP Benjamin Washiali noted “it was tough selling the Jubilee agenda in Western” and that “Mr Echesa was among people who went out of their way to propagate Jubilee and create in-routes for Mr Kenyatta to access the region”.
“We are not happy with this decision,” the National Assembly Chief Whip said, adding other ruling party members from the region were equally disheartened by President Kenyatta’s decision.
He said they remained worried “because Mr Kenyatta has shown that he doesn’t value us”.
The lawmaker, who referred to Mr Echesa as “one of our own”, went on to say that Mr Kenyatta should have invited Luhya leaders to a meeting to explain his decision and prepare them for it.
“He (Mr Echesa) has his own people and commands a large following, not only in western but also across the country. I know these people will make their own decisions,” he said.
The MP regretted that some members of the Luhya community had been advocating for Mr Echesa’s sacking.
He took issue with Cotu Secretary-General Francis Atwoli, asking him to hold a celebration “as his aspirations have been achieved since he had been spearheading calls to sack Mr Echesa”.
Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala, who had been at logger heads with Mr Echesa, said the Luhya community had suffered “a great deal”.
“This had been the only cabinet slot in Kakamega County. We ask the President to consider appointing another leader from the county,” he said.
Matungu legislator Justus Murunga, however, noted that the President has the authority to hire and fire ministers.
“We cannot blame the President for sacking our brother because we didn’t force him to appoint Echesa when he came up with his Cabinet in 2018,” said Mr Murunga.
Mr Echesa was appointed amid questions regarding his academic, with claims that he lacked the credentials for the job.
When he presented his Curriculum Vitae to the National Assembly Committee on Appointments, it was revealed that he was a class seven dropout. His appointment to the Cabinet was, however, approved.