Junet Mohamed Speaks On Claims He Will Replace Kindiki As Interior CS

Suna East Member of Parliament Junet Mohamed on Saturday, October 26 dismissed claims that he was eyeing to replace Kithure Kindiki as Cabinet Secretary (CS) of the Ministry of Interior and National Administration.

In a statement, the Minority Leader in the National Assembly emphasised that he was satisfied with his current position at the August House and was not making any plans to replace Kindiki in President William Ruto's Cabinet.

"H.E President William Samoei Ruto continues to broaden his government to conform to the wishes of Kenyans on national inclusion, service delivery, governance, democracy and stability of the Nation," he revealed in part.

"In this context, I have been made aware of unfounded innuendoes to the effect that I have shown interest in the position of Cabinet Secretary for Internal Security and National Administration and, or, that the ODM Party has submitted my name for consideration in such a role."

The MP affirmed that he was currently concentrating on his recent appointment as the leader of the minority party in Parliament adding that the position was similarly a significant constitutional office. 

He added that despite having the ambition to serve Kenyans in any capacity, he was neither one of the people seeking the government job nor did the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Party front his name for the preferred position.

"Whereas an opportunity to serve fellow Kenyans in any capacity is always welcome, I wish to inform the public that I am neither one of the people angling for the job nor has the ODM Party shown any interest in seeking to have another party expert join the government in that capacity," he went on.

"In any case, I have just recently assumed the leadership of the Minority Party in the National Assembly which is an equally very important constitutional office in our governance architecture. I do hope this clarification puts the matter to rest and allows the country to focus on more important concerns."

Junet's statement comes hardly two days after Majority Leader in the National Assembly Kimani Ichung'wah also dismissed reports of seeking to replace Kindiki, with the name of the successor still in the wind following Kindiki's approval for the appointment and impending swearing-in as Deputy President.

Speaking in Rabai, Kilifi County on Monday, October 21, the Kikuyu MP emphasised that he had a job to do in his current position in the August House, shutting the door on the possibility of landing a role in President Ruto's Cabinet.

Ichung'wah maintained that he had yet to complete the task which Kenyans had assigned him to do upon election to represent the Kikuyu Constituency and that claims of him eyeing the Cabinet position were meant to create confusion amongst Kenyans.

“I have heard there are many things that have been said here, one of the politicians has suggested that I should become the Interior CS. But I want to say that I have a job and I don't want people to get confused,” Ichung’wah said.

“I do not need the job of a minister, I have a job that I was given by Kikuyu constituents and these MPs also gave me a task in the National Assembly, I want to continue with this job so that we can bring development in Rabai and other parts of the country."

Ichung'wah then congratulated Members of Parliament for successfully impeaching former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua but was quick to note that it was not done out of hate by MPs towards him but for the sake of the people of Kenya.

He also affirmed that the impeachment motion tabled by Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse to oust Gachagua was not so that Ichung'wah could seek a higher position in President Ruto's administration.

The swearing-in of Kindiki currently hangs in limbo after Gachagua's legal team moved to court to oppose the impeachment which put his political career on the brink of a permanent end.

Kithure Kindiki taking oath of office as Interior Cabinet Secretary. /PCS