President did not target Mt Kenya ministers, assures Gachagua
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua on Friday defended President William Ruto's recent cabinet reshuffle that a section of Mt Kenya leaders claimed had targeted appointees from the region.
The DP said the President was simply repositioning his government to suit his vision.
"Our people should not feel targeted, should not despair...we are in good hands. We are working for a kind-hearted and gentlemanly president. There is no cause for alarm," he said live on Inooro FM.
"There was no sinister motive, it is his duty to make his government. I am also his appointee and I can assure you that I am not out of his favour," he said.
Mr Gachagua said the President had given him work to do "contrary to rumours that I have been sidelined by being confined to fighting alcohol and dealing with coffee issues".
He said the president likes him as his deputy, especially "because of my ability to get up early".
He said his base in the Mt Kenya region remained intact in the Kenya Kwanza Alliance government.
The reshuffle came after President Ruto publicly complained that some of his appointees were clueless and not up to the task.
In the changes the Head of State announced on Wednesday night, Moses Kuria was moved from the Trade ministry to the Public Service to be replaced by Rebecca Miano who was moved from the East African Community ministry.
Dr Alfred Mutua was moved from Foreign Affairs to Tourism, replacing Peninah Malonza who took over from Ms Miano.
Ruto expanded the ministerial portfolio of Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, making him Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs, a move that some pundits said diminished the importance of DP Gachagua's office.
The president also shaved the performance management portfolio from Mr Mudavadi's office and assigned it to a reconstituted Ministry of Public Service, Performance and Delivery Management, which he gave to Mr Kuria.
"We've just been reshuffled, we haven't lost anything... I don't think we were the target. We are still in charge of money, security, trade, water, land. The seats we negotiated for are still in our house..." he said.
He added that the percentage of Mt Kenya's votes (47 per cent) in the Kenya Kwanza government is commensurate with the cabinet seats allocated.
"I beg all of us in this government to work hard, up our game, let us not embarrass ourselves as a community... I am setting an example... I am working like a hyena... let Mt Kenya people in public service work like hyenas," he said.
He said the best way for appointees from the Mt Kenya region to keep their heads high amidst the turmoil was to work in a way that would make it difficult to raise doubts about their capabilities.
"We should try to leave a Mt Kenya legacy in this service," he said, adding cryptically that "even when things are tough, we will continue to support President Ruto".
