President Uhuru Kenyatta’s nine new nominees to the Cabinet have a combined net worth estimated at Sh2.2 billion, a report by the National Assembly Committee on Appointments indicates.
According to the report, Water and Sanitation nominee Simon Chelugui is the richest of them all. He estimated his net worth to be approximately Sh796 million.
The former director of the Betting Control and Licensing Board has investments in real estate, movable assets, and farming.
He was born in 1971 in Baringo County. He is a holder of a Bachelor’s of Commerce degree with a specialization in Management Science from the University of Nairobi.
Coming in behind Chelugui is the outgoing Director of Public Prosecutions Keriako Tobiko who has been nominated for the Environment docket.
In the details provided to the committee which conducted the vetting, Tobiko estimated his net worth to be Sh360 million comprising investments in real estate, agriculture, and livestock.
This presents an upturn in fortunes for Tobiko whose worth was Sh80 million when was being vetted for the position of Director of Public Prosecutions in 2011.
Born in 1964 in Kajiado County, Tobiko Bachelor’s of Laws degree from UoN, 1989 and a Masters of Laws degree from Cambridge University, 1991. He also holds a Diploma in Law from the Kenya School of Law 1990.
Then there is former Marsabit Governor Ukur Yatani, who has been nominated to be Labour CS. He has an estimated net worth of Sh295 Million with investments in transport, movable assets, real estate, and livestock.
Born in 1967 in Marsabit County, he holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration and Public Policy from the University of York in the United Kingdom (2005) and a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and Sociology from Egerton University, 1991.
Yatani is followed closely by another former governor – Peter Munya– CS nominee for East African Community and Northern Corridor Development.
The former Meru Governor estimated his total net worth at Sh264,100,000. His investments are real estate, agriculture, and land.
He holds a Bachelor’s of Laws Degree from the UoN, 1993 and a Master’s Degree In International Law (International Economic Integration Law) from the University of Brussels, 1995.
Ms Farida Chepchumba Karoney, Royal Media Services Ltd Chief Operating Officer, informed the committee that her net worth was Sh200 million.
The CS nominee for Ministry of Lands and Physical Planning has investments in shares, farming, and real estate.
She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Education Science (Botany and Zoology) from Kenyatta University, 1992 and a Post Graduate Diploma in Mass Communication from the University of Nairobi, 1996. In 2008 she graduated with a Masters of Business Administration (Strategic Management) from the University of Nairobi.
Public Service, Youth and Gender Affairs nominee Margaret Kobia disclosed that her net worth is approximately Sh165 million.
Born in 1956 in Meru County, she holds a Bachelor degree in Education from the University of Nairobi (UoN), 1981 and Master’s degree in Education from Kenyatta University (KU, 1991).
She also holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Human Resource Education from the University of Illinois and is an Associate Professor of Management and Entrepreneurship.
The remaining three nominees are all worth below the Sh100 million mark. Both Monica Juma(Foreign Affairs and International Trade) and John Munyes (Petroleum and Mining) are each worth Sh50 Million.
Born in 1964 in Kitui County, Monica Juma holds a Bachelors’ Degree in Arts, 1987 and a Masters of Arts in Political Science and Government, 1993 both from UoN. Further, she possesses a Certificate in Refugee Studies and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) from Oxford University in 2003.
John Munyes was born in 1966 in Lokitaung, Turkana County and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Arts in Sociology and Political Science from the University of Nairobi, 2010.
He has investments in real estate, transport sector, salary, and allowances. The amount could be more than stated as the former Turkana senator did not include livestock among his investments.
Wrapping the list is Rashid Echesa, CS nominee for Sports with a net worth of Sh40 million. He told the committee that he came from a humble background, His investments comprise of movable assets, real estate, and construction.
He is the nominee with the lowest academic qualifications. He attended Shibale Primary School from 1990 to 1997 and dropped out in class 7 due to school fees challenges.
The committee recommended he qualifies for the job after considering his experience in sports and in matters of national heritage.
Members of Parliament on Wednesday approved the nine nominees for appointment as Cabinet Secretaries.
The approval now paves way for President Uhuru Kenyatta to appoint the officials who will join their other Cabinet colleagues who were re-appointed.
