Youths Write Open Letter To Ruto Ahead Of CAS Interviews

Kirinyaga Woman Representative Jane Njeri Maina has advocated for the allocation of 50 per cent of Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) appointments to the youth ahead of interviews for candidates shortlisted for the positions.

In an open letter to President William Ruto dated Wednesday, February 22, the woman representative, who is a lawyer by profession, reminded the president of how the young people of Kenya are at the centre of challenges facing young and emerging democracies.

Njeri noted that it is critical to have them involved in providing solutions and offering leadership towards mitigating, countering and solving the same as they offer a fresh perspective and inject a passionate and ingenious wealth of ideas.

"Mr President, when you appointed CSs, young people held their breath. When you appointed PSs, young people held their breath. Mr President, young people can no longer breathe. They can no longer breathe under systemic segregation and disengagement in administrative and political processes.

Kirinyaga Woman representative Jane Njeri Maina during a media address alongside other youth outside Parliament on February 22, 2023. /TWITTER.ESTHER NYONJE

"Mr President, when you signed the youth charter, young people had hope. When you took over the presidency, young people had hope. They had hoped that this was a different government. That it would not only be reflected in delivery but representation in appointive positions," she wrote in part.

Njeri added that despite the youth still having hope, their hopes are hanging by a thread, worsened by the burden of being a young person in a critical time like this in the country.

She called for the President to be considerate in appointing the CASs to his government, which are likened to an assistant minister as per the previous Constitution but were not defined in the 2010 Constitution.

"Mr President, it is now time to appoint the CASs, and young people are looking up to you to back them up. Hundreds of them made meticulous applications for the CAS positions under your government. The majority of them failed to make the shortlist, but some sailed through.

"Mr President. I bring to your attention that the leaders of tomorrow are here. Now, in this moment and time, young people are waiting on you to back them up. They hold on to the hope that like you broke the yoke past the status quo, they too can," she went on.

According to Njeri, young people are not oblivious to the insurmountable challenges that keep them from appointive positions and that they have blended in and bent to their will for far too long, something she believes can be changed under President Ruto's leadership.

She took great exception that some of the shortlisted names have nothing new to offer the Kenyan populace.

"I further take great exception that eight former governors are also seeking appointments, along with a slew of veteran politicians. I note that of the 224 shortlisted candidates, only roughly 21 positions are available.

"Mr President. I am convicted that you support and believe in the leadership of young people. Under your leadership, your party holds the record for the highest number of elected young leaders in the 13th Parliament. You took a chance for our candidature against the status quo, else. I and many others would not be here," she added.

Njeri requested the President to indulge young people in appointive positions for CAS, stating that they too played an integral role in Ruto's victory in the August 2022 general elections.

"Though we ran on a slogan of 'hatupangwingwi'. Boss, we give you absolute authority to 'panga' our young people with CAS appointments. If you don't 'panga' them, the status quo will. And with certainty, we know they will 'panga' them out of those CAS positions they've patiently waited for," she signed off.

The Public Service Commission (PSC) had shortlisted 224 applicants for the position but included 16 new names, the majority of whom are allies of the Head of State, which brings the number to 240. Among them included former Mumias East Member of Parliament (MP) Benjamin Washiali, who shelved his political ambitions to campaign for Ruto in the Western region.

James Kimanthi Mbaluka, who contested for the Kibwezi West seat on a UDA ticket but lost to Mwengi Mutuse of Maendeleo Chapchap, was also shortlisted alongside party primary losers David Kiplagat Korir (Baringo Central Constituency) and Allan Kosgey (Nandi Governor).

Ex-county assembly members shortlisted include former Baringo County Speaker David Kiplagat and former Migori Minority Leader Nicholas Ngabiya Rioba. Other newly shortlisted candidates included Charles Kibanani Ngome, Mary Nyangara Karema and Justa Mwangi, who are persons with disabilities (PWDs).

New additions

1. Allan Kosgey
2. Benjamin Washiali
3. Charles Kibanani  Ngome (PWD)
4. David Sande
5. David Kiplagat Korir
6. Lucy Mihiuko Muchoki
7. Loice Chepchirchir Rono
8. James Peter Machoka
9. James Kimanthi Mbaluka
10. Josephat Ijela Lisiolo Loshenga
11. Justa W. K. Mwangi (pwd)
12. Mary Nyangara Karema
13. Mohammed Ibrahim Ibrein
14. Mohamed Maalim Mohamud
15. Mohamud Ali Saleh
16. Nicholas Ngabiya Rioba