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Welcome to Kenya’s billion-shilling club, the new-look Hustler Cabinet of 20 nominees, boasting a combined wealth of Ksh10.7 billion.

The nominees, who appeared before the Committee on Appointments that is chaired by Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, attributed their wealth to private business ventures.

The wealth of a majority of the nominees, as declared before the MPs, ranges between Ksh200 million and Ksh2 billion.

Interestingly, nominees who served in the previous Cabinet and were reappointed have seen their wealth grow in leaps and bounds, from the time they joined the Cabinet after the 2022 general election to last month when they were fired.

On average, each of the returning CSs grew their wealth by between Sh50 million and Sh100 million over the period.

The former Mombasa governor Hassan Joho, the nominee for Mining and Blue Economy, said his net worth stands at Sh2.3 billion, comprising developed and undeveloped properties.

Joho said: “Largely built by developed properties, including my homes in Mombasa, Vipingo, Nairobi and Malindi. Shareholding in property holdings, shareholding in family businesses, valuables in watches and cash at bank.”

Land and homes

Interior Cabinet nominee Kindiki Kithure, the first to appear before the committee last week, said he is worth Sh694 million, some Sh100 million more than the wealth he declared two years ago (Sh544 million).

His wealth comprises two homes in Nairobi and Tharaka Nithi counties valued at Sh190 million.

He said: “The increment in my net worth is because of certain things, including legal fees which had not been paid and my client paid me. None of my wealth comes from the government apart from salaries and allowances that I am entitled to.”

Debra Mulongo, nominated for the Health docket, said that jointly with her husband their net worth is Sh455.8 million.

Former Kandara MP and nominee for Lands, Public Works, and Housing and Urban Development Alice Wahome disclosed that the property she and her husband own is worth Sh327.6 million.

This is an increase of Sh100 million from the Sh218.4 million that they owned two years ago.

Wahome said that the increase is due to the appreciation of their land and because a tenant paid rent arrears amounting to Sh14 million.

The nominee for Education, Julius Migos Ogamba, said he is worth Sh790 million.

He said: “I am worth 790 million largely made up of land, I have tea, trees, vehicles, farm equipment and of course the income from the law firm.”

Agriculture and Livestock Development CS-nominee Mwihia Karanja revealed that his net worth is Sh214 million, comprising various investments and property.

The nominee said his wealth is from family residences, vehicles, plots of land and bank deposits.

Treasury bills

The nominee for Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports, Kipchumba Murkomen, said his net is Sh620 million.

This is an increase of Sh70 million from the Sh550 million that he declared in 2022 when he was vetted for the Transport CS docket.

The nominated MP and President Ruto’s pick for National Treasury CS, John Mbadi, declared that his net worth is Sh380 million.

Mbadi explained that his net worth comprises assets worth Sh.437 million and liabilities amounting to Sh57 million.

He explained that his liabilities include sacco loans, a mortgage from the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC), and a Sh12 million bank loan.

ICT CS-nominee Margaret Ndung’u disclosed her net worth as Sh 95.3 million, comprising a diverse array of movable and immovable assets.

She said: “My net worth is Sh95,323,000. My net worth comprises movable assets worth Sh5.5 million in the form of a car and immovable assets worth Sh54 million in the form of houses and land, Treasury bills and bonds worth Sh25.6 million, sacco shares worth Sh1 million and cash deposits worth Sh11.5 million.”

The nominee for Energy CS, Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi, said his net worth is Sh530 million.

He said this comprises land, cash, real estate and farms, among other assets.

He said: “It is largely made up of cash, real estate developments, farms in Siaya and Narok and plots in Kitengela, Migori, Suna East. I also own residential houses in Migori and on Kangundo Road.”

Tourism CS nominee Rebecca Miano said her net worth is Sh 444 million.

This is a Sh47 million increase from the Sh397 million she declared in 2022 when she was vetted for the East Africa Community docket, a position she held for only a year before being moved to the Trade Ministry.

Cars and cash

Trade Cabinet Secretary-nominee Salim Mvurya said his net worth is Sh158 million, an increase of about Sh38 million from Sh120 million as of September 2022, when he appeared before the same committee for ministerial vetting.

Mvurya said the sources of his wealth are houses and cars, investment in lands, and cash in his bank account.

The Water, Irrigation, and Sanitation Cabinet Secretary-nominee, the youngest of the 21 nominees, Eric Muuga, has disclosed his net worth is Sh31 million.

He said: “I come from a region that is engaged in farming and invested in lands owned and planted crops like tea, coffee, bananas, and others.”

Environment Cabinet Secretary-nominee Adan Duale declared that his net worth is Sh980 million on Friday when he appeared before the committee.

This is a Sh129 million increase from the Sh851 million and declared in September 2022 when he was vetted for the Defence minister position.

His assets comprise parcels of land, a cattle ranch and rental properties, among others.

Defence Cabinet Secretary-nominee Soipan Tuya revealed her net worth is Sh243 million, an increase from the Sh156 million she declared in October 2022 when she was vetted for the Environment CS position.

She said: “It is largely from the appreciation of assets, private business and one asset acquired within Nairobi.”

Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary-nominee Davis Chirchir revealed that he is worth Sh509.8 million.

This is an increase of about 26.7 million from the Sh482 million he disclosed during his vetting for Energy CS in October 2022.

His investments include homes in Karen and Kilimani, rental apartments in Westlands and a family-owned tea value-addition business

He said: “There is a small addition from last time…It is Sh509, 800,000. I think there’s been some small growth of about Sh27.6 million.”

Labour and Social Protection nominee Alfred Mutua said that his net worth stands at Sh 462m. This is a ten per cent increment representing Sh 420 Million that he declared two years ago when he was vetted for the position of CS Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

He said: “[This is] made up of homes, land where I do farming and a few businesses. In 2022 I was worth Sh 420 m, today it is 462, representing a 10 per cent normal growth in value in terms of property.”