- Raila distributed the five cabinet slots to cover his supporter bases where he enjoys massive support including Coast, Western, Rift Valley and Luo Nyanza.
- In a delicate regional balancing act, Raila picked former Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho for the Mining and Blue Economy docket.
Image: FAITH MATETE
It has emerged that ODM leader Raila Odinga carefully dished out the five Cabinet slots given to him by President William Ruto to ensure most of his support bases were happy.
While the nominations were done by President William Ruto, it is understood that Raila forwarded the names to the head of state before the nominees were formally picked.
Raila’s delicate regional balance is aimed at buttressing his support in key regions that have backed him for decades even as he eyes the African Union Commission chairperson job.
The ODM boss is keen to ensure that none of his strongholds feels disillusioned for being left out of his share of government after standing with him for years.
Former Cabinet Minister Franklin Bett told the Star that the former prime minister depicted leadership and selflessness while sharing his cake with supporters.
“Raila left no doubt that he is a statesman who puts country first before personal interests. He also demonstrated that he has a big heart and that he can be trusted,’’ Bett said.
“Raila’s nominees represent the face of Kenya despite the fact that they were just five.’’
Raila distributed the five cabinet slots to cover his supporter bases where he enjoys massive support including Coast, Western, Rift Valley and Luo Nyanza.
The ODM leader handed the most powerful and influential ministerial docket given to him by Ruto to his Luo Nyanza turf of Homa Bay through his party chairman John Mbadi.
Mbadi, a nominated MP who will have to resign his seat after once approved by the National Assembly, becomes the first ever Luo leader to be in charge of the national coffers.
The decision by Ruto was one of the biggest and most influential slots that he has handed Luo Nyanza including the powerful docket of Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo.
Omollo is the second to hold such a powerful position in government since the times of Hezekiah Oyugi.
Raila handed Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi from Siaya County the Energy and Petroleum docket as a deliberate strategy to appease his home county.
This is despite the fact that Wandayi was already serving as the National Assembly Minority Leader.
He will now have to resign and occasion a by-election.
Former Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya was named CS for Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises to take care of Raila’s bases in Western Kenya.
Oparanya who is also one of the ODM deputy party leaders hails from Kakamega County, the most populous devolved unit in Western Kenya. It is also one of Raila’s most loyal bases.
With more than 800 registered voters, Kakamega County handed Raila 357,857 votes against Ruto’s 141,166 votes in the 2022 polls.
In a delicate regional balancing act, Raila picked former Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho for the Mining and Blue Economy docket.
Joho is also one of the ODM deputy party leaders alongside Oparanya.
The firebrand ex-governor’s nomination has sparked a wave of excitement across the Coast region with his CS post expected to galvanise the populous bloc behind Raila.
Mombasa county which has 642,362 registered voters, gave Raila 161,015 votes against Ruto’s 113,700 482 in the 2022 polls.
On Tuesday, President Ruto nominated the first women Cabinet secretary from Turkana County, Beatrice Askul as the CS for East African Community and Regional Development.
Askul is a member of Raila’s think tank and sits in the newly formed ODM Coordinating Committee on Elections party’s polls body.
Askul’s nomination completed the list of President Ruto’s CS nominees ahead of their vetting between August 1 and 4.
The pick also took to five the cabinet nominees from Raila’s ODM party.
Coming from Turkana, Raila moved to appease the North Rift community that has stood with him for decades.
In the 2022 general election, Raila polled 96,117 votes out of Ruto’s 46,696 votes in Turkana County; making Raila the region’s political king.
Tuesday’s nomination of veteran prosecutor Dorcus Oduor who hails from Kisumu County as the country’s Attorney General has been seen as part of Ruto’s strategy to balance Cabinet slots in Luo Nyanza.
As it stands, only Migori has no ministerial flag, amid reports that one of the county’s political heavyweights could be named National Assembly leader of the Minority party to succeed Wandayi.
President Ruto is crafting a government of National Unity that brings on board key opposition figures to stabilise the country following a wave of anti-government protests.
While Ruto and Raila have denied entering into a coalition deal between their parties –that is true since no legal instruments have been signed- the fresh cabinet picks were shared between them.