Reuben Kigame has criticised what he describes as a growing disregard for professional qualifications in the appointment of cabinet secretaries, raising concerns about the potential consequences for Kenya’s governance.

In a statement shared on X on Monday, December 29, 2025, Kigame emphasised the need for merit and experience to guide appointments rather than political expediency.

“Cabinet appointments in government should be based on professional qualification, merit and experience. How on earth would you have a specialist in agriculture running the health or tourism sector, or a urologist running the ministry of education? We ordinarily do not hire that way ourselves, so why should it be accepted in government?” Reuben Kigame posed.

He argues that placing individuals in ministries outside their expertise risks inefficiency, poor policy implementation, and public disillusionment with government programs.

He stressed that leadership in ministries should mirror the standards applied in ordinary workplaces, where specialisation is key.

According to Kigame, the lack of alignment between a minister’s professional background and their ministry’s requirements could have a direct impact on service delivery and national development.

Kigame urged the government to prioritise expertise over political favouritism in future appointments. He warned that continued misalignment between qualifications and ministry responsibilities could compromise development projects, delay reforms, and ultimately undermine public trust in government institutions.