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The National Assembly Committee on Appointments will this afternoon vet three nominees to the positions of Cabinet Secretary.

This is after President William Ruto sacked three CSs in his quest to form a broad-based government following street protests against the Finance Bill 2024 that almost ended his administration.

While reshuffling his Cabinet late last year, Ruto nominated former Health CS Mutahi Kagwe to head Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development is same capacity.

But even as he faces the Committee on Appointments chaired by Speaker Moses Wetang’ula for his prospective return to power as CS, expectations are high.

Kagwe’s tenure as the Health CS lapsed with the coming to an end President Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration in 2022. During his reign at the Health docket, Kagwe was praised for his hands-on approach, calm demeanor, and reliance on science and evidence-based solutions which earned him recognition during the Covid-19 pandemic. Specifically, the prestigious Wall Street Journal lauded him as one of the heroes of the global Covid response.

However, Kagwe’s tenure at Afya House could also come back to haunt him because of the multi-billion-shilling scandal that rocked Kenya Medical Supplies Authority during the pandemic.

If approved and formally appointed, Kagwe will be greeted with Kenya’s agricultural challenges exacerbated by climate change, post-pandemic economic disruptions, population growth and political polarisation.

Kagwe will take over the Agriculture portfolio from Dr Andrew Karanja, who has been nominated as ambassador to Brazil.

Ruto also nominated former Kiambu Governor William Kabogo as CS for Information, Communication and the Digital Economy.

Kabogo is set to take over from Dr Margaret Nyambura who has been nominated as Kenya’s High Commissioner to Ghana. However, she has since declined the nomination.

Ruto also nominated former Nakuru Governor Lee Kinyanjui to head the Investment, Trade and Industry ministry, previously held by Salim Mvurya who has been moved to the Sports docket.