Devolution CS Charles Keter Declares Support for DP. William Ruto

Devolution Cabinet Secretary Charles Keter has become the first member of President Uhuru Kenyatta's Cabinet to Declares Support for Deputy President William Ruto in his run for the presidency.

Speaking in Kericho on Monday, January 10, the CS noted that he would support Ruto's quest to succeed President Kenyatta in the upcoming General Election.

The CS referred to the DP as the fifth President of Kenya during the address to much public cheer.

"I take this opportunity to welcome to join you in welcoming our fifth President William Ruto. I thank you for everything. I have been with the DP from 2006 and I will stay with him till he becomes the president," he stated.

This comes just weeks after Ruto allies decried a move by certain Cabinet Secretaries who chose to endorse former Prime Minister Raila Odinga's for the presidency.

The CSs included Fred Matiang'i of the Interior Ministry, his counterpart in the ICT Ministry Joe Mucheru and Agriculture CS Peter Munya.

In October, UDA wrote to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission chairman Wafula Chebukati, demanding that he warns CSs from campaigning for presidential aspirants.

The CSs, however, argued that the Constitution had not barred them from participating in the electoral process.

National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi also defended Cabinet Secretaries and Principal Secretaries from attacks by politicians. 

Muturi stated that people dealing with policies and development programs in the government should be given the space they need to execute their mandate. 

He stated that their role is to enlighten the public on matters of the government, and being attacked by politicians make them lack the space and freedom to effectively do their job.