Yatani Kanacho has been named the acting National Treasury Cabinet Secretary to replace Henry Rotich who has left the docket over corruption charges/CFM
NAIROBI, Kenya, Jul 24 – President Uhuru Kenyatta has named Labour and Social Protection Cabinet Secretary Ukur Yatani Kanacho acting National Treasury Cabinet Secretary to replace Henry Rotich who left the docket over corruption charges.
In a statement, State House says the appointment is to ensure smooth operations and continuity at the docket.
Kenyatta has also appointed Julius Monzi Muia as Treasury’s Principal Secretary for the National Treasury to take over Kamau Thugge who was charged alongside Rotich.
Muia has been serving as the Principal Secretary at the State Department of Planning.
Meanwhile, Torome Saitoti will take over at the State Department of Planning as Principal Secretary.
Major General Gordon Kihalangwa is appointed as the Principal Secretary for the Ministry of Defence.
Rotich, Thugge and eight other officials were charged with graft-related offences in relation to two multi-purpose dams projects in Kimwarer and Arror, Elgeyo Marakwet, estimated to be worth Sh63 billion.
The charges included willful neglect of official duty, engaging in a project without prior planning, and abuse of office.
Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji had Monday indicted a total of 28 officials with the Treasury officials being accused of borrowing Sh17 billion more than was required for the construction of the two dams.
Haji said their actions saddled the taxpayer with unnecessary debt.
Rotich and Thugge had surrendered to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations Monday afternoon after Haji announced his decision to charge them.
They were however incarcerated as detectives processed charge sheets before being arraigned in court on Tuesday.
The National Treasury officials pleaded not guilty to all charges leveled against them at the Milimani Court on Tuesday morning after which their lawyers led by Katwa Kigen, Kioko Kilukumi, and Senator Kipchumba Murkomen made a joint application for their release on bail.
The court reconvened at 4.30pm when the magistrate rendered his verdict on the bail applications.
Magistrate Ogoti ordered the accused persons to keep off their offices at the National Treasury and deposit their passports within 48 hours as condition for their release on bail.
The matter will come up for a pre-trial hearing on August 8.
