Former Sabatia MP Alfred Agoi and Malala reap big as they make it to CaS shortlist.

At least 50 politicians who vied for various elective seats in the August 9 General Election and lost have been shortlisted for the Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) slots, in a list published by the Public Service Commission(PSC). 

They include Ahmed Mukhtar, who arguably served the shortest period as Wajir Governor. The county’s former Senator Abdirahman Hassan has also been shortlisted. 

Former Sabatia lawmaker Alfred Agoi, who lost the Vihiga Governor’s seat , former Emgwen MP Alex Kosgey, Ali Mbogo, who served as Kisauni MP in the 12th parliament and was to be Mike Sonko’s running mate in the Mombasa gubernatorial race, Former Garissa Woman Representative Anab Gure, one time Mombasa Deputy Governor Anania Mwaboza, immediate former Lamu Senator Anuar Loitiptip and Former Narok County Deputy Governor Evelyn Aruasa are also in the race for the CAS seats that were legalised by the high court last week.

Other members of the 12th parliament whose attempt to make it back to the august house or their appetite for gubernatorial seats included in the CAS shortlist are former Kiminini MP Chris Wamalwa, whose bid for the gubernatorial seat in Trans Nzoia on a Ford Kenya ticket was halted by former Regional Commissioner George Natembeya who clinched the seat on a DAP-Kenya ticket. 

Former Tharaka Nithi Woman Representative Beatrice Nkatha, former Starehe MP Bishop Margaret Wanjiru, who lost to Edwin Sifuna in the Nairobi senate race, Jubilee party vice chairman Boniface Gatobu and former Soy lawmaker Caleb Kositany who lost to Jonathan Bii in the Uasin Gishu UDA nominations for the gubernatorial race ticket have also made it to the CAS shortlist.

Former Laikipia Woman Representative Catherine Waruguru, who was beaten by Amin Deddy in the UDA nominations in the Laikipia East parliamentary race that was won by former agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mwangi Kiunjuri on his TSP party ticket. 

In the list, also, is former Starehe lawmaker Charles Njagua (Jaguar) who lost his seat to Jubilee’s Amos Mwago, former EALA member Simon Mbugua, former Bomet Senator Christopher Langat who bowed out of the race at UDA nominations stage, and Cleophas Malala, who was vying on an ANC ticket and  lost to Fernandes Barasa in the Kakamega Governor’s contest. 

Former Aldai MP Cornelly Serem, Dennitah Ghati, an ODM member who lost to Fatuma Mohamed in the Migori Woman Representative seat and Nicholas Gumbo, who failed to capture the Siaya Governor’s seat are all in the scramble for CAS jobs. 

Other notable names of political losers in the last general eyeing the CAS jobs include Dr. Evans kidero, the former Nairobi Governor, whose attempt to win the Homabay Gubernatorial seat as an Independent candidate flopped, former Kisumu Senator Fred Outa, former Nominated MP Gideon Keter and former Makueni Deputy Governor Adelina Mwau. 

Hussein Dado, who was a CAS in the Uhuru administration, is seeking a second bite of the cherry, after failing to clinch the Tana River Governor’s seat on a UDA ticket. He lost to ODM’s Dhadho Godana. 

Former nominated senator Isaac Mwaura, former Keiyo South MP, Jackson Kiptanui, Jackline Mwenesi who lost in the Vihiga Woman Rep race, John Lodepe who lost in the Turkana Gubernatorial race, former Water Principal Secretary Joseph Wairagu, whose bid for Murang’a Governor’s seat on a DP ticket failed, former Turkana Woman Representative Joyce Emanikor, Khatib Mwashetani who represented Lunga Lunga constituency in the 12th parliament, former Narok South lawmaker Lemein Ole Korei, Lilian Tomitom who failed to recapture the Woman Representative seat in West Pokot county and Mark Lomunokol, who served in the 12th parliament as Kacheliba MP also made it to the final list of 224 candidates.

Former Nominated Senator Millicent Omanga who lost to Esther Passaris in the Nairobi Woman Rep race and a key feature in Kenya Kwanza campaign rallies has made it to the CAS shortlist. 

Former Manyatta MP John Muchiri Nyaga  who lost to Cecily Mbarire in the UDA nominations for Embu Governor’s seat, Kimani Ngunjiri the veteran politician who lost to Jubilee’s Irene Njoki in the Bahati parliamentary race, former Kirinyaga Woman Representative Wangui Ngirici who ditched UDA to face off with Anne Waiguru in the Kirinyaga Governor’s race, former Isiolo Woman Representative Rehema Jaldesa, her former counterpart from Tana River Rehema Hassan , former Tharaka Nithi Governor Samuel Ragwa, former nominated MP Mary Seneta and ex Ainamoi MP sylvanus Maritim have been shortlisted. 

Former nominated MP and KNUT Secretary General wilson sossion, former three time Machakos Town MP Dr. Victor Munyaka, former Wundanyi lawmaker Thomas Mwadeghu and former athlete Wesley Korir who race to retain the Cherangany parliamentary seat failed in august last year are also in the race for the CAS positions. 

It remains unclear how many CAS slots are available even as the 224 nominees line up for interviews by the Public Service Commission from March 1, 2023. 

The final shortlist will be submitted to President William Ruto to determine who will make the cut, in the scramble for the CAS slots that are technically deputy Cabinet Secretaries. 

In the executive order number one of 2023, President Ruto structured his government into the executive office of the president that includes the offices of Deputy President and Prime Cabinet Secretary, 21 Ministries and the state law office, headed by Attorney General Justin Muturi.