Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has urged the newly appointed Cabinet Secretaries to amplify their work within their respective ministries.

Speaking during the closing ceremony of a two-day induction for the Cabinet members at the National Defence College, International Peace and Support Training Centre in Nairobi on Tuesday, Gachagua encouraged the CSs to adopt a “hen mentality.”

Gachagua on inspection

He emphasized the importance of inspecting the work being done on the ground by their officials.

Gachagua assured the Cabinet Secretaries that both he and the President were readily available to support them during these inspections.

“I want to encourage you, as you settle into your respective ministries, to make it your business to go to the field and inspect what your officials are doing. Where you need a slightly higher profile, I am there to back you up, and where even more visibility is required, the President is there to support you,” Gachagua stated.

He explained the “hen mentality” by comparing the noisy hen to a cow, noting that while the hen lays a small egg and makes a lot of noise, the cow, which produces litres of milk, often goes unnoticed due to its quiet nature.

“I keep saying let’s use the hen mentality in this administration. The hen lays a very small egg and immediately gets on top of the house to make noise for the next four hours so that everybody knows an egg has been laid.

“Meanwhile, the cow produces 40 litres of milk but remains silent. That milk disappears because no one knows it’s in the compound. Whatever little you do in your ministry, let it be known,” he added.

19 Cabinet Secretaries were sworn into office at State House, Nairobi, on Thursday.

The 19 Cabinet Secretaries are Kithure Kindiki (Interior), Soipan Tuya ( Defence), John Mbadi (Finance), Adan Duale (Environment), Davis Chirchir (Roads), Kipchumba Murkomen (Sports), Salim Mvurya ( Trade), Margaret Nyambura (ICT), Justin Muturi (Public Service) and Rebecca Miano (Tourism).

Others are Alfred Mutua ( Labour), Opiyo Wandayi (Energy), Julius Migosi (Education), Eric Muga (Water), Hassan Joho (Mining), Alice Wahome (Lands), Deborah Barasa (Health) and Wycliffe Oparanya (Cooperatives).