Kenya’s new president unveils Cabinet

By Andrew Wasike

NAIROBI, Kenya (AA) - Kenya's new President William Ruto named his 22-member Cabinet on Tuesday.

This came shortly after he chaired his first Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, which was attended by all transitioning former Cabinet secretaries from former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s government.

Ruto named Musalia Mudavadi as the prime cabinet secretary. Mudavadi will be the most senior official in his government after the president and Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

Mudavadi, who served as the seventh Vice-President of Kenya in 2002, will assist the president and the deputy president in the coordination and supervision of government ministries and state departments.

Alfred Mutua was named the foreign affairs cabinet secretary, Moses Kuria the cabinet secretary for trade, and Rebecca Miano the cabinet secretary for the East African Community (EAC) affairs in Kenya.

Other notable cabinet secretaries included Kithure Kindiki (interior security), Njuguna Ndung'u (treasury), Peninah Malonza (tourism), Mithika Linturi (agriculture), Ezekiel Machogu (education), Susan Wafula (health), Roselinda Soipan Tuya (environment) and Aden Duale (defense).

“Top of the agenda of the government is to fix the economy, tackle the ongoing drought, counter insecurity and ensure the country remains free of the Ebola virus,” Ruto said.