Failure is not be an option in the Kenya Kwanza administration, President William Ruto cautioned members of his Cabinet yesterday.

Addressing the Cabinet Secretaries after they were sworn into office at State House Nairobi, President Ruto assured them of his full support as they discharge their duties.

He said long working hours await them as they assume office.

“There is no honeymoon for you because you will be leaving office very late, so the spouses will have to forgive us,” Ruto said.

“In the discharge of your duties, in the various ministries that you will be serving you will have my wholesome support because you have no other option than to succeed. Failure is not an option, we have a country to look after, we have a plan to implement and we have the people of Kenya watching us,” Ruto said.

The Head of State told the CSs to stick to the dictates of the rule of law in the exercise of their duties.

“You should stick to the tenets of the Constitution to avoid turning Kenya into a country run on the whims of individuals,” Ruto said.

Favouritsm

He told the new ministers and other members of the Cabinet to do their best in serving Kenyans without considering their regional or their backyard support.

“You are going to serve the people of Kenya and you have been appointed to the Cabinet of Kenya. I know there are regional and community persuasions but I haven’t appointed a Cabinet for any region or county or any community. I expect you to respect your oath of office and serve Kenyans equally,” Ruto said.

He added: “You should desist from playing regional favouritism and negative ethnic politics as you discharge your mandate.”

Ruto warned the CSs that they had no choice but to serve the electorate to their best, failure to which they would be answerable to him.

He added: “I expect each and every one of you, as I do of all public servants, to uphold the Constitution and the rule of law to be at the front and centre of our government. That should be the guiding principle.”

Grey areas

The Head of state urged the CSs to accord Members of Parliament the necessary support and reminded them that they will be called upon to appear before them to respond to questions.

“You will be appearing before Parliament to respond to issues touching on your dockets and also report progress and programmes but most importantly to be held accountable on your performance,” said the Head of state.

“Not all Kenyans can come to your office but they have elected their leaders, there should be respectful working relationships with them,” President Ruto said.

“My intention and that of my deputy is to run a clear and accountable government. We have no grey areas, and we have nothing to hide. We want to serve Kenyans in a manner that upholds integrity,”he said.

The Head of State heaped praises on the outgoing Chief of Staff and Head of the Public Service Joseph Kinyua for his service to Kenyans.

He thanked Kinyua for ensuring a seamless transition from Jubilee administration to his.

“There was no coup in the election which needed the passing of the baton from one team to another and Joseph made sure that there was a seamless working together between the Cabinet that was there and the new Cabinet,” Ruto said.

Kinyua farewell

In his brief address, Kinyua expressed appreciation for the chance given to him to serve in the office for over a decade.

“I am elated as I hand over the mantle of coordinating the Public Service to a new generation of civil servants,” he said.

“I thank you and your predecessors for according me the privilege to serve in four successful administrations and in yours as well. It has been a profound honour and humbling journey. I’m immensely grateful to be accorded the rare opportunity to serve Kenyans and the great men chosen to be President.”

It was the incoming Head of Public Service Felix Koskei who was the first to take the oath of office.

So because, as the incoming Head of Public service, he was the one constitutionally tasked with administering the oath of office to the incoming CSs, a task he could only undertake after being sworn  in an exercise overseen by his predecessor, Kinyua.

 Then followed Mudavadi, incoming Attorney General Justin Muturi, Interior CS Kindiki Kithure, Simon Chelugui (Cooperatives) and Adan Duale(Defence), in that order.

Mudavadi, unlike the rest of the incoming CSs, did not swear with the bible, in line with the doctrines of his faith, the Quakers.

There was a light moment when it came to Trade CS Moses Kuria’s turn to greet the President after taking his oath of office, with the former reaching out to check what was in the former Gatundu South MP’s bulging jacket pockets.

Speaking after the event, Ruto asked the CSs to traverse the country and interact with the people so as to know their problems and how to tackle them.

“I would encourage you to traverse this country even if you’re called tanga tanga…go to where the people are, listen to them, their issues and get a solution,” Ruto said.