Kalonzo rejected Ruto’s Foreign Affairs CS job offer – Gachagua reveals

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua says Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka turned down an offer to join the Kenya Kwanza administration as Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary.

Speaking during an interdenominational church service at the Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos County on Sunday, April 16, the DP disclosed that President Ruto reached out to Kalonzo after last year’s presidential polls but the former Vice President declined to ditch the opposition’s Azimio la Umoja – One Kenya coalition to join the government.

It’s after the failed talks that the President settled on former Machakos County Governor Alfred Mutua for the role, Gachagua disclosed.

“When Kalonzo turned down the offer, the President gave it to your son Alfred Mutua,” Gachagua said.

Kalonzo previously served as foreign affairs minister from 1993–98 and 2003–04. 

According to the DP, Ruto had reserved the seat for the Kambas due to his “love for the community”.

The position was previously held by Monica Juma who also hails from Kalonzo and Mutua’s Eastern region. Juma also served as Energy and Defense minister in President Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration.

Gachagua said the President had made two other cabinet appointments from the community despite the locals overwhelmingly voting for Azimio’s candidate Raila Odinga during the August 2022 polls.

He accused the community of abandoning Ruto when he needed them most, during the 2022 General Election.

“The President loves this community. The President has been here countless times. He had built churches, he has made generous donations to women’s groups and even bought buses for schools but I don’t know what gets over you during elections you forget him and vote for that old man who has done nothing for you,” Gachagua said.

“During the handshake government, you had only one position but our President has given you three positions,” he added.

President Ruto last year appointed Peninaha Malonza as Wildlife and Tourism Cabinet Secretary. He also retained Juma in the Cabinet and appointed her as his National Security Advisor and later Secretary, National Security Council.

Speaking at the event, President Ruto also confirmed that he had reached out to Kalonzo for a government role but the former VP insisted that he was comfortable in the opposition.

“I looked for Kalonzo and we sat down after last year’s election and I urged him to take a post and join my government but he flatly refused and opted to remain in the opposition,” Ruto said adding that he was considering Kalonzo for the National Assembly Speaker post or any other role.