Immediate former sports cabinet secretary, Rashid Echesa, says he learnt of his sacking through television update on Friday.
Speaking at a funeral in Marinda Village, Matungu Constituency in Kakamega County on Saturday, the ex-minister said he still doesn’t know why he was shown the door by President Uhuru Kenyatta.
“I learnt of my sacking through TV, just like most of you. I am also waiting to be given reasons explaining my sacking,” said Mr Echesa.
“What happened yesterday [Thursday, March 1] is not a new phenomenon in Kenya. I am not the first minister to be sacked. Firing of ministers is a common practice world-over.
“Today’s deputy president [William Ruto] was also – at some point – fired by the former Prime Minister Raila Odinga. Did that deter him from rising up the ranks to the position of the DP? No.
“President Kenyatta is within his Constitutional right to reorganise his cabinet as he so wishes. He has the powers to fire, hire and appoint.
“The president appointed me [to cabinet one year ago]. He had his own reasons for that. Today, he sacked me. He also has reasons why he did that. Being fired from Cabinet isn’t the end of my life. There is nothing to worry about. I urge my supporters to be calm, as what is happening is akin to waves whose turbulence would end soon,” said Mr Echesa.
In the cabinet reshuffle announced Friday, outgoing education minister Ambassador Amina Mohamed will take over from Mr Echesa at the sports docket.