Beatrice Askul Moe: Another Raila Ally Who Ruto Nominated As CS

Should she be successful and be appointed, she will be tasked with running affairs at the Ministry of the EAC which formulates policy on the East African Community and coordinates Government and private sector participation in the EAC Affairs.

Marvin Chege Marvin Chege
Jul 30, 2024 - 21:19
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Beatrice Askul Moe: Another Raila Ally Who Ruto Nominated As CS
Side by side image of President Ruto and EAC Cabinet Secretary nominee, Beatrice Askul Moe. /PCS.VIRAL TEA KE

On Tuesday, July 30, President William Ruto nominated Beatrice Askul Moe as the Cabinet Secretary for the East African Community (EAC).

She is set to undergo vetting before the National Assembly. Should she be successful and be appointed, she will be tasked with running affairs at the Ministry of the EAC which formulates policy on the East African Community and coordinates Government and private sector participation in the EAC Affairs. 

Other duties include coordinating the implementation of the EAC regional programmes, coordinating the implementation of the EAC Treaty and promoting and fast tracks EAC integration process.

Askul notably has connections with former Prime Minister, Raila Odinga, and the nomination is another one of the allies of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader included in Ruto's broad-based Cabinet.

EAC Cabinet Secretary nominee Beatrice Askul. /NATION MEDIA GROUP

The inclusion of ODM members as part and parcel of the top policy-making organ in the Executive has raised eyebrows and criticism aplenty, though the move is seen as as a strategic attempt to foster a government of national unity against the backdrop of youth protests.

Furthermore, Ruto's decision to include members from Odinga's camp is perceived as an effort to quell tensions and stabilise his administration by broadening political representation within the government.

Some political pundits also claim the move has diluted Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua's influence in the country's apex decision-making organ.

Askul was part of the panel which was tasked with picking Raila's running mate in the 2022 presidential poll.

In 2023, she defended the former prime minister when chaos erupted during the Turkana Cultural Festival. She is also a member of the party's National Elections Coordinating Committee.

Askul was also on the proposed list of ODM nominees for the East Africa Legislative Assembly (EALA) but did not make the final cut.

Nonetheless, she is a Social Scientist and a Consultant, having previously served as the County Executive Committee Member in charge of Water, Irrigation, Agriculture and Land Reclamation in Turkana County Government.

She has previously served as a Director of the Rift Valley Water Services Board, Chairperson Technical Committee of the Rift Valley Water Services Board, Chairperson Audit Committee of the Rift Valley Water Services Board, Project Officer of AMREF Kenya Turkana Project and Relief Officer for the Oxfam Turkana Relief Program.

The CS nominee has specialized skills in the development and management of community affairs, towards behavioural and social change in communities. 

She has also undertaken various certifications and pieces of training including a County Induction Course at Kenya School Government (Turkana County Government); Corporate Governance Course (CGC) while serving as a member of Rift Valley Water Services Board; Training on Audit Committees by KCA University (Institute for Capacity Development; Training of Trainers (TOT) Course for Community-based development by AMREF Kenya; and Training in Methodologies for Conducting Baseline Assessment Survey for Food Security and Nutrition Improvement Project Turkana.

Askul holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Sciences (Social Work) from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) and is pursuing a Masters Degree in Governance and Ethics.

Should Parliament approve her nomination, Moe will be replacing Peninah Malonza who was dismissed from the now-dissolved former Cabinet.

President William Ruto and his Cabinet posing for a photo after a meeting on July 4, 2024. /PCS

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