‘You can’t reap what you didn’t sow’- Cherargei defends Ruto’s changes in parastatals
Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei has defended President William Ruto's recent changes in parastatals that have seen several individuals who served in retired President Uhuru Kenyatta's government sent packing.
In a tweet on Thursday, December 29, the outspoken Kenya Kwanza legislator said President Ruto's loyalists will be given priority by the current administration, adding that "you can't reap what you didn't sow."
"There is nothing strange of purging out of our govt of Azimio-OKA apologists/campaigners/financiers you can't reap what you didn't sow.
"H.E Ruto supporters/campaigners/loyalists they shall always get priority in KK govt, its a tradition all over the world to reward loyalists (sic)," Cherargei tweeted.
There is nothing strange of purging out of our govt of Azimio-OKA apologists/campaigners/financiers you can't reap what you didn't sow . H.E Ruto supporters/campaigners/loyalists they shall always get priority in KK govt, its a tradition all over the world to reward loyalists. pic.twitter.com/oDcQOMItR5
— Senator Kiprotich Arap Cherargei (@scherargei) December 29, 2022
The Head of State has in recent weeks made sweeping changes in various parastatals despite protests from Azimio la Umoja - One Kenya coalition leader Raila Odinga, who lost to the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party boss in the August presidential election. Raila claims some of the persons appointed to head government institutions lack expertise.
Some of the leaders who have been replaced include, Francis Muthaura (former Chairman, Kenya Revenue Authority), Vivienne Yeda(former Kenya Power Chair), Lewis Nguyai(former Chairman, National Health Insurance Fund), Rita Okuthe(Former Chair, Kenya Pipeline Company), and David Ngugi(National Council for Population and Development).
Muthaura was kicked out last month after serving at the helm of KRA since May 2018. He was replaced by former UDA chairman Anthony Mwaura.
Last week, President Ruto also revoked the appointment of Nguyai as NHIF Chair, replacing him with former Transport Cabinet Secretary Eng Michael Kamau.
Kamau was dropped from Cabinet in April 2015 by Uhuru over abuse of office and corruption allegations.
He will be at the helm of NHIF for three years.
“In exercise of the powers conferred by section 4 (1) (a) of the National Health Insurance Fund Act, I, William Samoei Ruto, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces of the Republic of Kenya, appoint Michael Kamau (Eng.) to be the Chairperson of the National Health Insurance Fund, for a period of three years, with effect from the 23rd December 2022," a gazette notice dated December 23 read in part.
After the appointment, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua thanked President Ruto for what he termed as restoring the dignity of ex-Transport CS.
In a tweet, the country's second in command said Kamau was a distinguished public servant who served the country diligently but was later persecuted by the very government he served.
"Thank you, President William Ruto, for restoring the dignity of Eng. Michael Kamau. A distinguished Public Servant who put in years of committed service to our great Nation of Kenya, he was persecuted and taken through hell by the very Government he had served," he tweeted.
The DP further stated that Kamau had gone through a lot since his suspension.
He exuded confidence that Kamau's appointment brings on board experience and efficiency to an institution that is critical in the implementation of the Kenya Kwanza plan of realizing Universal Health Coverage for all Kenyans.
