Source: Facebook
President William Ruto has announced his commitment to finding a significant role for Aisha Jumwa, the former Gender and Culture Cabinet Secretary, despite her not being reappointed to the cabinet.
This pledge was made during a visit to Kilifi County, where Ruto addressed local residents and highlighted Jumwa's importance in his administration.
During his speech in Kilifi, President Ruto praised Aisha Jumwa as a capable and loyal leader.
He reassured the crowd that Jumwa would continue to play a vital role in his administration.
"I will not leave Aisha Jumwa behind, she is my sister and we will walk together, I will not leave her behind. Isn’t she capable?" Ruto asked, eliciting cheers from the audience.
Ruto also revealed that discussions had already taken place regarding Jumwa's new responsibilities.
He expressed his intention to have Jumwa work closely with the newly nominated cabinet secretaries from the coastal region, ensuring that her skills and experience would continue to benefit the government.
The President's announcement came shortly after a series of protests by Kilifi residents who were unhappy with Jumwa's exclusion from the cabinet.
Demonstrators demanded that Ruto reconsider his decision and reinstate Jumwa, arguing that their support for Ruto's administration deserved recognition.
"We urge the president to hear our cries and give Aisha Jumwa a post in his administration. In Kilifi county we voted for the president," said one of the protesters.
The residents' protests highlighted the strong local support for Jumwa and the disappointment felt by many in Kilifi over her removal from the cabinet.
Their demands showed the political importance of Jumwa in the region and the expectation that she would continue to have a prominent role in the government.
In her address at the same rally, Aisha Jumwa expressed gratitude to President Ruto for the opportunity to serve in his administration.
She acknowledged the President's leadership and pledged her continued support for his government.
"He allowed me to serve the people of Kenya and I am grateful for that and I will continue to be thankful. I believe in Ruto because what he sees while sitting I can't figure while standing," Jumwa commented.
Jumwa also expressed her willingness to work with the newly nominated cabinet members, including Hassan Ali Joho and Salim Mvurya.
She commended Ruto for including Joho in his government and called for unity in supporting the President's agenda.
"I want to thank him for nominating my brother Ali Hassan Joho and Salim Mvurya into his government. I have no problem with that. Let us all support the president," she added.
The recent changes in the cabinet have brought to light the intricate political dynamics in the coastal region.
The inclusion of Hassan Ali Joho, the former Governor of Mombasa, marks a significant shift in Ruto's political strategy for the area.
Joho, a prominent figure in the region, has faced legal challenges related to his shipping and logistics business since Ruto's rise to the presidency.
Joho's re-emergence in national politics, coupled with his nomination to the cabinet, suggests a strategic move by Ruto to balance political interests in the coastal region.
Historically, Ruto's administration has favored Kilifi and Kwale counties, where he garnered substantial support, over Mombasa. This new appointment indicates an attempt to bring Mombasa into the fold and create a more inclusive government.
Both Aisha Jumwa and Salim Mvurya, the former CS nominee for Mining, Blue Economy, and Maritime Affairs, face significant political challenges following their removal from the cabinet.
Analysts suggest that their political relevance in the coastal region may be in jeopardy, given their perceived failures in office.
Consultant sociologist and Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at Pwani University, Halimu Shauri, pointed out that Jumwa and Mvurya did not meet the expectations of the coastal people or the President.
"Jumwa was all bravado, showoffs, arrogance, and mocking of the electorate on her social media pages. In Coast, the former CSs will find it difficult to win elective seats," Shauri commented.
Shauri further criticized Mvurya for his lack of tangible achievements in the mining and blue economy sectors, which are crucial to the coastal region.
"Mvurya was in charge of Mining and Blue Economy, sectors that are key to Coast people but did nothing about it. He was just hype but nothing even in Kwale County where he served as a governor," he added.
Political analyst Maimuna Mwidau noted that Mvurya's legacy as governor of Kwale, particularly his bursary fund initiative, had a positive impact on the region.
However, she emphasized that maintaining political relevance would be challenging for both Mvurya and Jumwa.
"Mvurya has not been associated with corruption as governor and this enabled his deputy Fatuma Achani to ride on his legacy to become governor," Mwidau observed.
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