Ruto Picks Three Allies In Preparation Of Taking Over From Uhuru
The outgoing Deputy President has named three members who will represent him at the Assumption of the Office of President Committee led by the Head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua.
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William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza Alliance is actively strategizing ahead of a transition of power to him from outgoing President Uhuru Kenyatta after he was elected Kenya's fifth president.
The outgoing Deputy President has named three members who will represent him at the Assumption of the Office of President Committee led by the Head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua.
The members are former National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi, Uasin Gishu woman representative-elect Gladys Shollei, and United Democratic Alliance (UDA)'s secretary general, Veronica Maina.
President Uhuru Kenyatta after taking over from the late former President Mwai Kibaki in 2013. /VOA NEWS
Muturi is the outgoing National Assembly Speaker and Democratic Alliance party leader and joined Ruto's camp, just weeks before the just-concluded August 9 general elections.
Shollei is the former Registrar of the Judiciary and had played a key role in Ruto's election. She was amongst Kenya Kwanza agents at the Bomas of Kenya when the tallying of results nationwide was conducted.
UDA secretary general, Veronica Maina has been spearheading Ruto's campaigns, which played a hugely strategic role in the ascension of Ruto to power.
The persons who get to sit in the committee have already been stipulated in the Constitution of Kenya by virtue of the rank and position they hold either in the Cabinet, military or the National Assembly. Article 141 of the Constitution reveals the procedure and ceremony for the assumption of the Office of President by the President-elect.
The law goes on to add that the Committee will be an ad hoc committee. It will consist of: the Secretary to the Cabinet who shall be the chairperson, the Attorney-General, the Cabinet Secretary of the Ministry of the registration of persons and immigration, the Principal Secretary in the Ministry of internal security, the Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Finance and the Principal Secretary in the Ministry of foreign affairs.
Others are the Principal Secretary in the Ministry of information and communication, the Principal Secretary in the Ministry of culture and social services, the Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces, the Director-General of the National Intelligence Service, the Inspector-General of the National Police Service, the person in charge of the administration of the affairs of the State House, the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Chief Registrar of the Judiciary.
Also included are three persons nominated by the President-elect. The Clerk of the Senate and the Secretary to the Intergovernmental Relations Secretariat is appointed under the law relating to intergovernmental relations.
The Constitution also indicates that a vacancy in the membership of the Committee shall not affect the decisions of the Committee.
President Uhuru Kenyatta, despite not congratulating Ruto, assured the nation that he will hand over power peacefully. Uhuru responded to Deputy President-elect Rigathi Gachagua who claimed that the ceremony would go on even without the head of state's presence.
Members of the Assumption of The Office The President address the press at the steps of Harambee House on Friday, August 12 2022. /FILE
