Could these be the best and worst Cabinet performers?

By Oscar Obonyo

Indefatigable Environment and Mineral Resources Minister John Michuki leads the pack of the best performing ministers over the last two years.

While ranking of performance of the Grand Coalition Government's bloated Cabinet of 41 remains arguable, there is no denying the Septuagenarian is a proven hard worker.

The Kangema MP, who has led Cabinet colleagues in performance index in at least two national surveys, received an award from United Nations Environmental Programme (Unep) for his contributions to cleaning the Nairobi River basin last year.

To many, Michuki seems to have the proverbial Midas touch. As Transport Minister in President Kibaki's first term, he transformed the matatu industry and its rowdy crew – a revolution that has since acquired the nickname 'Michuki rules'.

Fisheries Minister Paul Otuoma and Gender and Children Affairs colleague, Esther Murugi, are the surprise inclusions on the list of best performers. The two, who incidentally are first-term MPs, are credited for turning mere departments into vibrant ministries.

The Fisheries Ministry was initially a department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, while the Gender and Children Affairs desk was domiciled at the Ministry of Culture and Social Services.

To date, the Funyula MP is the sole minister who has fully executed the Stimulus Package set up by Finance minister Uhuru Kenyatta to boost economic development in the country's 210 constituencies.

Fish ponds

The ministry has dug up fish ponds in virtually every district, including in regions that traditionally do not regard fish as a delicacy. To date, 14,000 fishponds across the country have been dug and central Kenya region leads in fish farming.

Uhuru, who is set to face Parliament in June when he tables the Budget, has clearly indicated the Fisheries ministry is the face of the success of the Stimulus Package.

Other ministries, including Medical Services and Public Health have been unable to raise the required number of personnel per constituency, especially in remote regions.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education's plan to recruit teachers under the package have been momentarily halted by the Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) that has filed a case in court.

Separately, Murugi has initiated Social Protection Programme for orphans, older persons and the vulnerable. In the rare and noble pilot projects spread across the country, the ministry dishes out a token amount every month to the elderly.

The Nyeri Town MP has also championed the inclusion of the 30 per cent affirmative action into the National Defence Policy and now all armed forces are according women a minimum of 30 per cent of all slots in recruitments into the forces.

Other departments that were elevated to ministries but have relatively not made much impact include Mohammed Elmi's Ministry of Development of Northern Kenya and Other Arid Lands as well as Njeru Githae's Ministry of Nairobi Metropolitan Development.

While the list of other good performers such as Agriculture Minister William Ruto, Noah Wekesa (Wildlife and Forestry) and Mutula Kilonzo (Justice and Constitutional Affairs) is arguable, there is little doubt that before his exit as Matuga MP through an election petition, Ali Chirau Mwakwere had been adjudged by public court as the worst performing minister.

　

Source: The Standard | Online Edition