Senator Hits Out at 7 CSs Accompanying Ruto to UNGA

Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale has criticised the decision by seven Cabinet Secretaries (CSs) to accompany President William Ruto to New York for the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

The issue was raised in the Senate on Wednesday, September 23, after several Cabinet Secretaries who were expected to appear before the House to respond to questions were unable to attend because they were accompanying the President.

Senate Speaker Amason Kingi told Senators that four CSs had been scheduled to appear before the plenary, including the Cabinet Secretaries for Education (Julius Ogamba), Mining and Blue Economy (Hassan Joho), ICT (William Kabogo), and Youth Affairs (Salim Mvurya).

Kingi said the CSs for Education, Mining and Blue Economy, and ICT were in New York with the President and would therefore not be available to respond to questions before the Senate. 

He said the CS for Youth Affairs was the only one who would appear before the House.

In response, Khalwale said Senators understood the circumstances but expressed concern over the number of Cabinet Secretaries accompanying the President to the UNGA.

"While we agree with you that the hands of the Senators are tied because of the ministers accompanying the President at the United Nations General Assembly, but let it also be on record that we are not comfortable with that," he said.

Khalwale questioned why such a large number of Cabinet Secretaries were required to accompany the President during the international meeting, arguing that their roles could affect the functioning of government back home.

"Kenya is not a failed state where 7 Cabinet Secretaries can accompany the Head of State to the UN General Assembly, and the responsibility that they are going to discharge is to sit in the background when the President is reading a statement," he added.

Khalwale further raised concerns about the financial implications of the delegation, pointing to the expenses associated with the travel and accompanying government officials.

"The Parliament of Kenya should be disturbed because this not only has a bearing on the efficiency of how our Government is run; it also has a financial implication, to the extent, there are return tickets running into millions of shillings, PSs have accompanied them, other senior Government officials have accompanied them, their security and all manner of expenses. This is assuming that Kenya is running on autopilot," he further said.

Elsewhere, this comes weeks after DCP Deputy Party Leader Cleophas Malala urged Khalwale to hand over his United Patriotic Movement (UPM) to Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna.

Speaking during Gloria Sekeiyan's burial, Khalwale's late wife, Malala asked the Senator to step down as party leader in favour of Sifuna.

He explained that the move would ensure that the Nairobi Senator has a party to contest in the 2027 Elections.

Malala explained that the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) requires parties intending to field a presidential candidate in the General Election to submit their credentials by October 15, yet Linda Mananchi had not been registered.

"We know you can not register a political party within 50 days. Khalwale, you have a party. If you truly love Sifuna, step down as party leader and hand over to him so that he can use it to run for the presidency.

"That is when we will know you are serious about Sifuna, and we will, as Mulembe nation, head to the elections under that party," he said.

Khalwale further called for the unity of the Luhya nation behind Sifuna's candidature. He, however, acknowledged that the community needed to work with other regions.

Malalah defended himself for joining the DCP party, stating that he did not betray his community, but was trying to broaden the Nairobi Senator's support base. 

He hinted at convincing his party leader, Rigathi Gachagua, to shelve his bid in Sifuna's favour.

"I have already started talks with Riggy G so that he supports you to become Kenya's next president. So, when you see me in DCP, understand that I am trying to look for 7 million votes," he reiterated.