President William Ruto has addressed criticism over the appointment of John Mbadi as the Cabinet Secretary for Treasury and Opiyo Wandayi as the CS for Energy and Petroleum.
Speaking in Migori on Monday, May 5, Ruto noted that critics are displeased with his choices since both Mbadi and Wandayi were part of the opposition and did not support his presidential bid.
However, he defended the appointments, emphasizing that leadership should transcend political affiliations and serve all citizens equally.
“Some people are angry with me, asking why I appointed John Mbadi as the Cabinet Secretary for Treasury and Opiyo Wandayi as the CS for Energy and Petroleum, yet they never voted for me.
“My response is simple; the government of Kenya belongs to all Kenyans, both those who voted and those who didn’t,” he said.
Read More
Ruto appointed Mbadi and Wandayi to his Cabinet in July 2024 following nationwide protests against the 2024 Finance Bill.
Both Mbadi and Wandayi served as the Minority Leader in the National Assembly, and Ugunja MP assumed office on August 8, 2024, following parliamentary approval.
Upon his nomination, Wandayi expressed gratitude to President Ruto, stating it would be an honor to serve the country in his new capacity.
"Thank you, President William Ruto, for nominating me to the position of CS, Energy and Petroleum. It will be a great honor and privilege to serve my country in this new capacity if I secure the approval of the National Assembly. My gratitude to Baba Raila Odinga for his enduring mentorship and tutelage," he said.
National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula urged both Mbadi and Wandayi to maintain open communication with MPs and mentor other CSs.
“I will be the saddest speaker in the history of Kenya to hear from MPs, coming to complain that you cannot open the doors for them, you cannot take their calls, and can’t even attend to the issues they bring to you.
“Go out there and set the pace. Mentor those who have not had the opportunity to come to this House on how they can deal with MPs,” he said.
Ruto described the inclusion of opposition leaders in his Cabinet as a move to form a "broad-based government" aimed at uniting the country.
"The formation of this broad-based government that brings together former political rivals into one selfless patriotic team, will unlock the potential of our country that has long been denied us by factional and sectarian competition.
"While competition is good, there is a moment when the interest of the nation is greater than the interest of a political formation. It is the reason I have reached out across the aisle to bring onboard the knowledge, expertise and experience of deserving Kenyans though belonging to a different political formation," he said at the time.
