Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has claimed that President William Ruto pleaded with him before the appointment of Raymond Omollo as the State Department for Internal Security and National Administration Principal Secretary (PS).

While pleading for the appointment of Omollo, Ruto, according to the DP, promised that he had faith in him and that he was going to deliver.

Omollo’s appointment

“You know I am the custodian of shares in this government, and the president came and told me, ‘There is a young man, and the seat I want to give to him should not raise the issue of shareholding because he will not qualify.

“Just accept my request because we are friends. For this one, let us not apply that formula because he will not qualify, but I want to reassure you that he is a good man. You and Kenyans will be happy about him later on’,” Gachagua said during Omollo’s Thanksgiving ceremony that was held at Oriwo Boys Secondary School on Saturday, July 15, 2023.

The former Mathira Member of Parliament (MP) went on to explain why he could not resist the appointment of Omollo after the highly charged general elections in 2022.

“It is because we have been longtime friends [with President Ruto] and I understood the president. I shelved the issue of shareholding, and Omollo consequently became the PS for Interior,” he added.

Gachagua has been likening the Kenya Kwanza government to a shareholding company where their supporters enjoy a majority stake. Omollo hails from the former Nyanza Province, a region that has predominantly supported Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader, Raila Odinga.

Kindiki-Omollo chemistry

Meanwhile, the DP lauded how Omollo has so far worked with Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Kithure Kindiki.

“That docket is a serious docket; it is the heart of the government. I also want to confirm that the PS and Kindiki have good working chemistry, which is why we are making progress.

“When Kindiki is far away, Omollo is in charge of the Harambee House and takes care of all of us,” he concluded.

Kindiki and Omollo‘s docket has had to deal with challenges ranging from the banditry menace in Baringo, West Pokot, and Turkana Counties. A spate of terror attacks has also been reported in Mandera, Wajir, and Garissa counties, as well as Lamu.

In recent weeks, the Interior Ministry has been under the spotlight given how the police have dealt with anti-government protests.