Kenya: Atwoli Welcomes President Ruto'sinclusion of ODM Members in Cabinet

28 July 2024
Capital FM (Nairobi)
By Sharon Resian

Nairobi Kenya — The Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary-General, Francis Atwoli, has praised President William Ruto for nominating leaders from the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) to his Cabinet, acknowledging their competence.

Speaking at Tom Mboya Labour College in Kisumu on Saturday, Atwoli said the move exemplifies the spirit of multiparty politics, where the opposition can play a constructive role in supporting the government's agenda.

Atwoli also urged President Ruto to consider appointing young people to the remaining Cabinet positions, emphasizing the importance of involving the younger generation in governance.

"If the President and Raila, in their wisdom, have decided that some members of Azimio should contribute to the country's stability, I am not in a position to say it was wrong," Atwoli remarked.

He called on the President to ensure regular appraisals of Cabinet members to identify and remove non-performers, advocating for at least 5% of government jobs to be allocated to the Gen Z generation.

Atwoli also defended Raila Odinga, leader of the opposition, stating that those criticizing him should remember his long-standing efforts for Kenya's political freedoms and reforms.

President Ruto's decision to include members of the opposition in his government has sparked debate. Key figures from ODM, including ODM Chairman John Mbadi as the new Treasury Cabinet Secretary and Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi as the Energy Cabinet Secretary, have been nominated to Cabinet positions.

Former Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho has been appointed the new Mining Cabinet Secretary, while Wycliffe Oparanya is set to become the Cooperatives Development Minister. Additionally, Salim Mvurya has been named the new Investment and Trade Cabinet Secretary.

These nominations come after weeks of street protests led by young people, demanding an overhaul of the government due to concerns over corruption and resource mismanagement.

While some commentators have criticized the inclusion of opposition members as potentially anti-reform, Atwoli urged Kenyans to trust President Ruto's choices for national stability.

Read the original article on Capital FM.

Tagged:
Copyright © 2024 Capital FM. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.

AllAfrica publishes around 500 reports a day from more than 100 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.

Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us.