ODM Cabinet Appointees to Oversee Key Kenya Kwanza Programs

In a hurry? Here’s a quick summary…

• ODM appointees, including Wycliffe Oparanya and John Mbadi, are set to oversee key Kenya Kwanza programs if approved by Parliament.
• The appointments mark a dramatic reversal as ODM leaders, previously critics, take on roles managing critical issues like the Hustler Fund and national debt.

In a twist of Kenya’s political ironies, appointees from the opposition Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party are set to oversee some of the flagship programs of the Kenya Kwanza administration, pending parliamentary approval.

One notable appointee is Wycliffe Ambetsa Oparanya, who is poised to take charge of the Ministry of Cooperatives and MSME Development. 

Oparanya, currently the ODM deputy party leader, was previously a sharp critic of the Hustler Fund—a flagship election program of President William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza administration. Ironically, this fund will now fall under his purview if he is confirmed as Cabinet Secretary.

Similarly, ODM National Chairperson John Mbadi has been nominated to succeed Prof. Njuguna Ndung’u at the Ministry of Treasury and Economic Planning. 

Mbadi will be tasked with managing critical issues such as the national debt, escalating borrowing, and the high cost of living, challenges he has previously criticized.

James Opiyo Wandayi, the National Assembly Minority Leader, is proposed to head the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum. 

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Wandayi will face the demanding tasks of managing the cost of fuel and electricity and overseeing the last mile connectivity project, which has faced setbacks due to budget cuts. His new role will require him to align with policies he has previously opposed.

Hassan Ali Joho, nominated to lead the Ministry of Mining, Blue Economy, and Maritime Affairs, will assume office during a pivotal time. 

Kenya has recently discovered deposits of coltan across six counties, and Joho will be responsible for actualizing President Ruto’s promise of job creation through the Blue Economy. 

This appointment follows a history of fiery exchanges between Joho and the President over the port debate, signaling a need for reconciliation.

These nominations mark a significant shift, placing ODM figures at the heart of the challenges President Ruto has faced over the past 20 months.