[UAH] Leaders differ over Uhuru’s choice of Kambi

The nomination of former Kaloleni MP Samuel Kazungu Kambi as Labour Secretary, which saw former Cabinet minister Chirau Mwakwere excluded from the Cabinet, has split political leaders at the Coast.

Mr Nyonga wa Makemba, the Mijikenda Youth Forum chairman, opposed the decision, saying it might be a "malicious" attempt by the Kenyatta administration to have "academically weak" pointmen in the region to further their own interests against the will of the people.

"Why him (Mr Kambi) when we have able professionals and politicians who can run any docket with ease and competence?" he asked.

Going by Mr Kambi's track record as Health Services assistant minister, Mr Makemba is worried that the Labour, Social Security and Services docket would not be in good hands.

According to him, the widespread demands for enhanced pay by members of the 11th Parliament, the Senate, doctors, lecturers, teachers and civil servants called for the appointment of a sober, articulate and sharp negotiator.

"The Uhuru-Ruto pick for this docket is way off the mark and they should be told they have goofed," Mr Makemba said.

He took a swipe at President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto for turning the region into a "laughing stock" by appointing individuals with mediocre academic qualifications compared to other cabinet secretaries from elsewhere.

"Candidly, apart from relying on experience, what can Mr Kambi or Mr Najib Balala (Mining Secretary) show in terms of academic credentials compared to Mwakwere, Morris Dzoro (former Tourism minister), (former Garsen MP) Danson Mungatana or (former MP) Anania Mwaboza?" he said.

Pivotal role

But former Kilifi County Council chairman Anthony Kingi says the appointment of Mr Kambi was long overdue because of the pivotal role he played before, during and after the March 4 General Election on behalf of the Jubilee Alliance.

In his view, the vocal Mr Kambi had been the voice, the face and the image of the United Republican Party (URP) at the Coast. He said he performed better than Mr Mwakwere whose visibility was poor in all aspects of campaigning.

"To tell you the truth, Mwakwere had one foot in and one foot out, and that's why when he was given the opportunity to be Mr Ruto's running mate, he chickened out and preferred going for the Kwale senator's job," he said.

Saying the nominee was the Deputy President's right-hand man and party stalwart, Mr Kingi noted that it would have been absurd to nominate the former Matuga MP in place of a close associate.

He added that the nomination was a clear indication that the President and his Deputy are already thinking of the next elections.

"Picking Mr Kambi is a balancing act for the next General Election, and whether you like it or not, those who supported the two principals cannot be thrown into the trash bin just to have an-all technocrat team," he said.

While the Jubilee government promises to create one million jobs a year, Mr Kingi adds that the appointee's job, if he is endorsed by the Parliamentary vetting committee, is tailor-made for him.

Some of the challenges facing him are gender disparities in the Kenyan labour market, inequality in income and distribution of national wealth, highly militant trade union movements, ethnic biases in employment and high rates of unemployment.

But Prof Gabriel Katana of Pwani University argues that political appointments in the region have been a tragedy rather than a blessing for locals since independence.

"We have had numerous appointments of highly placed individuals, but what have they done for the betterment of this region?" he said, adding that Mr Kambi will have to deal with the unskilled or semi-skilled labour force in the region.

According to him, the region lacks qualified personnel , and he believes that through the Labour, Social Security and Services docket, the region hopes its own son will organise training programmes to address the prevailing unskilled labour market that runs from Lunga Lunga in Kwale County to Kiunga in Lamu County.

However, Dr Nesbert Mangale is worried the appointee will have a hard time dealing with the labour problems facing the country due to his lack of knowledge and experience in labour issues.

"Political rewards can be at times dangerous if they are done without consideration of one's previous experience, competence or qualifications," he said, adding the Labour docket was far beyond Kambi's capabilities.