KHCR faults Ruto over state appointments

The Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) Saturday weighed in on President William Ruto's latest Cabinet nominations.

KHCR also faulted the President for what it alleged as advancing gender disparity at the helm of governing by not nominating women in his his new Cabinet appointments.

The lobby said it was concerned that President Ruto's recent appointments had failed to put into consideration regional balance.

In a press statement, KHCR said the nomination of William Kabogo, Lee Kinyanjui, and Mutahi Kagwe to the Cabinet contravened ethnic inclusivity, as the trio is from the Mt Kenya region.

“With the new CS nominations, the Mt Kenya region is poised to dominate the Cabinet. If the National Assembly approves Kabogo, Kinyanjui, and Kagwe, they will join Justin Muturi, Rebecca Miano, Alice Wahome, and Eric Muriithi in the Cabinet,” KHRC said.

“When the deputy president is included, eight cabinet members will be from the Mt Kenya region, constituting 34.7 per cent of the Cabinet," the statement added.

The commission faulted the president for failing to consider women in his recent cabinet appointments.

According to KHRC, only five of the 20 cabinet secretaries were women, representing just 25 per cent.

“Such actions contravene the public's trust and the obligation to exercise power in their interest. Article 10 of the Constitution identifies the key national values and principles of governance, including patriotism and national unity,” the commission stated.

On Thursday, ruto nominated Kabogo, Kinyanjui, and Kagwe for Information Communication and Technology, Trade, and Agriculture dockets respectively.

Others were former Laikipia Governor Nderitu Mutiithi who was named the KRA chairman and ex-Murang'a senator Kembi Githura as chairperson of the Kenyatta University Teaching, Research and Referral Hospital.

Former Murang'a Governor Mwangi Wa Iria has since been appointed non-executive Chairperson of the Public Procurement Regulatory Board for three years.