President Uhuru Kenyatta has appointed Cabinet Secretary for Labour and Social Protection Ukur Yatani, as the Acting National Treasury Cabinet Secretary and PS for Planning Dr Julius Muia as his Principal Secretary.
Yattani replaces Henry Rotich while Julius Muia will take Kamau Thugge’s position at the Ministry who were caught up in the multibillion Arror and Kimwarer dam scandal and were released yesterday on Ksh15 million cash bail after pleading not guilty. According to the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act, any public officer charged with corruption stands suspended from office until the case is concluded.
“This will ensure smooth operations and continuity at the National Treasury following the court order affecting Rotich and his PS Kamau Thugge,” a statement from State House reads.
His excellency also appointed Torome Saitoti as the Principal Secretary for the State Department of Planning and Gordon Kihalangwa as the Principal Secretary for the Ministry of Defence. Gordon was the Immigration Principal Secretary and Saitoti the Defence Principal Secretary.
Yatani was nominated as Labour CS in January last year in Cabinet changes that sparked speculations. Former Marsabit Governor who had served a four-year term was sworn into office a month later, after a successful vetting process in the National Assembly.
Rotich and Thugge were among 28 individuals implicated in the Arror and Kimwarer dams scandal and the two were charged at the Milimani law courts on Tuesday. They are accused of abuse of office, conspiracy to defraud among other charges including entering into a commercial loan facility agreement disguising it as a government to government loan guaranteed by the Italian Government.