President William Ruto on Friday named more allies of Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga to plum government positions, a day after he nominated associates of his predecessor Uhuru Kenyatta to the Cabinet.
Prof Adams Oloo, Mr Joe Ager and Dr Silvester Kasuku – all allies of Mr Odinga – are now part of President Ruto’s Council of Economic Advisers.
Prof Oloo will be the Strategy and Communication Adviser while Dr Kasuku will handle Governance. Mr Ager will be Secretary, Governance.
Also appointed in the Executive Office of the President is Mr Ali Mahat Somane who will be in the Office of the National Security Adviser.
Mr Ager and Prof Oloo were in the team that brokered a truce between President Ruto and the ODM leader, leading to opposition politicians joining the Cabinet.
Prof Oloo has been Mr Odinga’s adviser for many years and played important roles in his presidential campaigns.
Dr Kasuku served as the Secretary for Infrastructure and Lapsset Corridor Project at the then-Office of the Prime Minister.
The December 20, 2024 circular containing the appointments is signed by Principal Administrative Secretary Arthur Osiya on behalf of Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service Felix Koskei.
“The appointments in the Executive Office of the President seek to augment the complement of personnel supporting the Head of State and Government in fulfilling the profound mandate vested in the nation’s foremost office,” states the circular.
President Ruto also picked Mr Peter Kenneth to chair the Kenya Bureau of Standards National Standards Council.
The former Gatanga MP was an ally of Mr Odinga and then-president Kenyatta in the run-up to the 2022 General Election.
Former Murang’a Governor Mwangi wa Iria, an important player in Mr Odinga’s opposition Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition in the last election, will now chair the Public Procurement Regulatory Board.
Others appointed are Mr Gerald Nyaoma Arita as Central Bank of Kenya Deputy Governor, Mr Bruno Oguda Obodha as Managing Director, East African Portland Cement Company while Mr Douglas Kaibos is the Chief Executive Officer of Central Valley Works Development Agency.
“These appointments have been made, based on the recommendations of the Public Service Commission and in line with the laws governing each public office, as applicable,” the circular says.
The new appointments add to the growing list of Mr Odinga’s allies who have joined the government since July.
High-profile opposition leaders named in the government identified by President Ruto and Mr Odinga and broad-based were ODM Deputy party leaders Ali Hassan Joho (Mining and Blue Economy) and Mr Wycliffe Oparanya (Cooperatives and SMEs).
ODM National Chairman John Mbadi and Secretary of Political Affairs Opiyo Wandayi were appointed National Treasury and Energy Cabinet Secretaries respectively.
Party Elections Board member Beatrice Askul was named EAC Cabinet Secretary. They left their party posts on joining the government.
