In the latest appointments that happened on Saturday, President Uhuru Kenyatta was placing more focus on his Central Kenya backyard which has of late attracted a lot of activity from the Tanga Tanga formation as succession politics take centre stage.
Persons believed to be close to the ‘Kieleweke’ team dominated the list of appointments announced in the Special Gazette notice that came out yesterday.
“The President cares for all regions and is aware of the various grievances (on equity). He is also tapping into the various talents and competencies even as he balances on the grivances. You will be surprised to know the wealth of experience the people he has chosen have,” Dennis Waweru, the newly appointed chair of Kenya Investment Authority said.
Central Kenya took home more than 50 per cent of the about 80 appointments.Nyeri Town MP Ngunjiri Wambugu insisted that the president went for those people who will support his agenda.
Nominated MP Maina Kamanda said the President was free to appoint anyone he wanted to work for his legacy, whether a Tanga Tanga or a Kieleweke.
To illustrate the President’s focus, the seats were distributed among the region’s counties, with Kiambu getting the bulk at 16 posts.
Nyeri, which had been grumbling of neglect by two successive regimes, got 15.
It was followed by Murang’a with 12 slots. And just like Nyeri, the county has received its fair share of wooing from the DP, with most elected leaders eloping with him in his 2022 dreams.
Nairobi, largely considered an extension of Central, scooped a similar number – 13 – but spread across the communities in the cosmopolitan city. Meru, an important political region to Central political plans, scooped 8 appointments.
One of the country’s smallest counties – Tharaka Nithi – took home five while the expansive Nyandarua got 4, Kirinyaga 6 and Laikipia 2.
Embu got 5 appointments.Rift Valley and pastoralist counties of the North faired poorly, with a number of counties missing out altogether.
It was not any better in the larger western Kenya either. Siaya scooped five appointments, with most of the counties securing one or two positions.
Ruto’s home county of Uasin Gishu got four appointments, while Baringo bagged five. Elgeyo Marakwet got 3, while Nandi, Kericho and Bomet got one each.