Pressure Increases For Ruto To Name Gender CS To Complete Broad-Based Cabinet

Despite holding the first standalone meeting featuring members of the broad-based Cabinet, President William Ruto is yet to name a Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Gender, Arts and Culture after Stella Soi Lang'at’s nomination was rejected by Parliament on August 7, 2024.

At the time, Lang'at was deemed to have failed to demonstrate adequate knowledge of topical, administrative and technical issues touching on the portfolio to which she had been nominated.

The National Assembly Committee on Appointments went ahead to approve 19 Cabinet Secretary nominees picked by President Ruto to occupy positions in his Cabinet and they were subsequently sworn into office days later. All except the Gender CS nominee who was not picked to replace Lang'at.

On Tuesday, September 24, this matter resurfaced at the August House, with Samburu West Member of Parliament Naisula Lesuuda putting extra pressure on President Ruto to nominate someone for the Gender docket, no matter the gender of that person.

Lesuuda read bias in the appointments, arguing that a replacement for other dockets would have been fast-tracked, her remarks hinting at an undermining of the Gender docket in the Kenya Kwanza government.

"There is a position of a Cabinet Secretary that has not been filled in this country and I want to remind the Executive just in case they have forgotten, we do not have the Cabinet Secretary of Gender and Affirmative Action in this House.

"If it was another Ministry, I want to assure you that by today, the replacement of that Cabinet Minister would have happened. We cannot continue business when we do not have the CS of Gender in this country, the Cabinet Secretary should be appointed like yesterday," she urged, adding "Even if it is a man, we need a CS of Gender in this country."

Lesuuda's remarks were backed by Woman Rep Dorice Donya who called for a Gender CS to be nominated so that the individual can go through vetting through the National Assembly committee before being appointed by the President, citing double standards given the conversation on gender mainstreaming, health in young girls and women, among others.

Two high-profile nominees, Beatrice Askul and Dorcas Oduor underwent vetting via the National Assembly Committee on Appointments on Friday, August 9 for the positions of Cabinet Secretary for East African Community Affairs and Regional Development and Attorney General respectively and were appointed, despite their nominations coming in later than the rest.

The Gender CS post drew significant attention and one individual who openly declared her interest was former NTV presenter Doreen Majala.

“To whom it may concern, I hereby express my interest in the position of CS, Gender, Culture, The Arts & Heritage,” Majala wrote in part on X on August 7.

The former Swahili news anchor outlined that she is a lawyer, expressing confidence that her experience and merit are suitable for the CS position and that she has the understanding and the best interests of Kenya's youth at heart.

“I have an LL.B.(Hons), MBA(StMg) and Candidate LL.M.,(Int’l Law). I have no Godfather nor handout but CV, Experience and Merit. I’m a cousin to Gen Z. Sincerely,” she added.

Photo of former NTV news anchor, Doreen Majala. /DOREEN MAJALA