Ex-Governor Lonyangapuo lands State job days after ditching Raila’s Azimio
Former West Pokot Governor John Lonyangapuo is among the latest appointees to State Corporations.
President William Ruto on Friday appointed the former county boss to be the chairperson of the Board of Directors of the North Rift Valley Water Works Development Agency.
Lonyangapuo will replace David Chumba Chemweno whose appointment has been revoked.
"In exercise of the powers conferred by section 7 (3) of the State Corporations Act, I, William Samoei Ruto, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces, appoint— John Lonyangapuo (Prof.) to be the Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the North Rift Valley Water Works Development Agency, with effect from the 10th March, 2023 up to 3rd December, 2023," Ruto said in a gazette notice dated March 10.
"The appointment of David Chumba Chemweno is revoked."
Also appointed alongside Lonyangapuo is former Kisauni MP Ali Menza Mbogo, who was picked to be the chairperson of the Lapsset Corridor Development Authority for a period of three years.
Prof Raphael Munuve, the chairperson of Presidential Working Party on Education Reforms, was appointed chairperson of the Konza Technopolis Development Authority for three years.
Lonyangapuo, who also doubles up as party leader for Kenya Union Party (KUP), served as governor of West Pokot between 2017 and 2022.
He lost to Simon Kachapin of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party in the August 9th, 2022, general election.
The state appointment comes days after Lonyangapuo announced KUP's exit from the Azimio la Umoja - One Kenya coalition.
The former governor said the political marriage with the Raila Odinga-led coalition hit the rocks after the opposition started “engaging in things that might plunge the country into chaos.”
Lonyangapuo said KUP does not support Raila’s call for demonstrations against President Ruto's Kenya Kwanza administration.
“Our contract with Azimio ended after seeing them going in a different direction, creating tension in the country. People are sleeping hungry, there is drought and there is insecurity and we don’t want sideshows,” Lonyangapuo said.
He claimed Raila's call for mass action was a threat to democracy in the country and termed the opposition's activities as an attempt to force a handshake with President Ruto.
“Azimio coalition represents the greatest threat to democracy, the rule of law, and national cohesion in our nation’s recent history. Raila should accept and move on. Kenya is one and Kenyans are Kenya. The first priority should be Kenya and its people,” Lonyangapuo added.
“We ended the elections peacefully. It adds no value, it is meaningless, and it is foolish to demonstrate now. Let people go to their farms because there is cheap fertilizer and seeds. Keep quiet and wait for five years, it is a short period."
