Homa Bay Town MP Peter Opondo Kaluma has accused the Ruto government of perpetuating deep-rooted tribalism in public service appointments, claiming that communities aligned with the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) remain sidelined despite the ODM-UDA working pact.
In a strongly worded statement on Tuesday, Kaluma said a casual look through the larger public service confirms entrenched tribalism, not inclusion contrary to the Constitution, adding that ODM supporters continue to occupy peripheral roles in key state institutions.
The legislator cited the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), National Intelligence Service (NIS), and National Police Service (NPS) as examples of sectors where his community remains underrepresented.
“We have no fair representation in the Kenya Defence Forces where the highest placed soldier after the current Navy Commander, who has attained retirement age, are mere brigadiers. We are nowhere in the National Intelligence Service, just as our people feature nowhere in the National Police Service including the Criminal Investigation Department,” he said.
Kaluma questioned the distribution of senior positions within the National Government Administration, saying most of his community members only serve as Chiefs and Assistant Chiefs.
He also raised concerns about the composition of leadership in the National Treasury and its affiliated agencies.
“We have John Mbadi as National Treasury Minister, but who runs the Treasury? Who is in charge of the Central Bank of Kenya, Kenya Revenue Authority, the National Treasury Departments and Agencies, the Banks, the Insurance Industry? Who are the Chief Finance Officers, the Procurement Officers, the Human Resource Officers under the National Treasury?” he posed.
The MP extended his criticism to the energy sector, noting that while the Cabinet Secretary for Energy and Petroleum hails from the region, key decision-making positions remain out of reach.
“Who are in charge of the Energy Department and the Petroleum Department and the SAGAs under them including KPLC, REREC, EPRA? Who decides who gets electricity and who controls the oil streams and the petroleum pump in Kenya?” he asked.
He further questioned the depth of representation in the Office of the Attorney General, despite Dorcas Oduor’s appointment as Attorney General, and challenged the Ministry of Interior and National Administration to show how many people from Nyanza they have employed in the National Police Service.
“Yes, Dorcas Oduor is the Attorney General. But who are the Registrars, the Senior Principal State Counsels and the heads of directorates and Departments at the Office of the Attorney General?” he said.
“We have the PS in charge of Administration and National Security but who really calls the tune in the Administration and Internal Security Sector? Where are our people in the National Police Service and at the upper cadres of the National Administration?”
The MP is also calling for a review of appointments across diplomatic missions, independent commissions, and state corporations.
