Don’t judge gov’t appointees because of their tribes, Ruto tells opposition

Deputy President (DP) William Ruto has said the recently announced Government appointments are based on the merit and competence – not tribes, as sections of the opposition have alleged.

The DP said Kenyans should stop looking at state appointments from a tribal angle, urging them focus on the qualifications of the appointees.

He called out members of the opposition who criticised the recent appointments, adding that it would be understandable if opposition leaders raised questions over the qualification of the appointees – not which tribes they come from.

“We should judge Kenyans in terms of whether they can deliver or not and not based on their tribes,” he said.

The Deputy President made the remarks at Kapsabet Girls High Schools where he joined students, teachers and parents in celebrating the girls’ outstanding performance in last year’s Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education exams.

The Deputy President’s statements come a day after President Uhuru Kenyatta was criticized by the opposition with CORD Leader Raila Odinga saying the appointment does not reflect regional balance.

“Just look at the names of people who have been appointed and ask them, which united Kenya you are talking about?” posed Odinga.

Former Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) chairman and Tinderet Member of Parliament Henry Kosgey was appointed the chairman of the Tourism Fund to serve for a period of three years effective March 18^th, 2016.

In a Gazette Notice, President Kenyatta also appointed former Head of Public Service and Secretary to the Cabinet Francis Kimemia as the chairperson of the Industrial and Commercial Development Corporation (ICDC).

Former top cop Major General (Rtd.) Hussein Ali was been appointed the non-executive chairman of the Non-Governmental Organizations Coordination Board for a period of three years while business mogul Chris Kirubi has been named the non-executive chairman of the Brand Kenya Board.