By Arnol Ageta
West Mugirango MP Stephen Mogaka has today accused President Ruto of forgetting and ignoring Nyamira County in the latest appointments of Cabinet Secretaries.
He said Nyamira also deserves the best, like other counties, given that Ruto received significant support in the last elections where he became the victor.
“You have nominated Cabinet Secretaries from the ODM party that did not support you in the last election,” he said. “You are doing that with the knowledge that those who campaigned for you in Nyamira are not among the nominees.”
He singled out Dr. William Nyakiba, who was UDA’s running mate for Walter Nyambati in the 2022 gubernatorial race. Mogaka said he personally asked the president to consider Dr. Nyakiba for the position of a permanent secretary, but the president did not appoint him.
“President Ruto, offer Dr. Nyakiba a position equivalent to his support in the run-up to the 2022 elections,” he urged Ruto.
Addressing mourners at Nyaisara village in Nyamira County, the MP said it is wrong for the president to appoint the running mate of Dr. Ezekiel Machogu, who both come from Kisii County, as if Nyamira County did not vote for him.
“As I have always told you in every visit to State House, it is immoral for Dr. Nyakiba, who could die for you, to still be languishing out here while you call your enemies into the cabinet, eat with your enemies in the cabinet, leaving your brother,” he lamented.
Stephen Mogaka, who won the West Mugirango seat on a Jubilee ticket, is advocating for Dr. Nyakiba of UDA for the top position, regardless of their party affiliations.
Mogaka has said that he was the first leader to ask the president to consider a broad-based government that accommodates opposition parties for the prosperity of the nation.
In the new appointments, ODM’s former Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho was nominated as Cabinet Secretary for the Mining Industry, John Mbadi to the Treasury, Wycliffe Oparanya to the Ministry of Cooperatives, and Opiyo Wandayi to the Energy Ministry.
The ODM party did not nominate anyone from Nyamira or Kisii County, yet the party has been enjoying massive support from the people of Nyamira County.
West Mugirango MP argues that Bomet has two CSs, and the same can be done in the Gusii region by nominating another CS from Nyamira.
“And unless we are fair, God will not be fair to us. Just be fair. We are not asking for too much when we say Nyamira is also a county,” he implored the President. “In Bomet, you have two CSs, yet Nyamira has none.”
When he said that, some youths started chanting “Ruto must go” slogans to show their dissatisfaction with the latest development, where Nyamira was again missing from cabinet appointments.
The MP said Nyamira has long been forgotten and asking for representation does not amount to any crime because Nyamira is in Kenya and deserves better.
“Gen Zs are pushing and opposing the government because it is not fair and equitable,” he concluded. “What you do in Bomet, do it in Nyamira. If you cannot give us a CS, please give us a PS.”
