By Peter Ochieng
President William Samoei Ruto has a new deputy aide-de-camp.
Seen on duty in public for the first time on Thursday at the Sagana State Lodge in Nyeri County as President Ruto attended the National Drama and Film Festival winners’ state concert, Lieutenant Colonel Joan Osweto has replaced Colonel Damaris Agnetta Apondi who has been deployed to other duties in the military.
Agnetta was appointed Ruto’s deputy aide-de-camp less than two years ago. Osweto now serves as deputy to President Ruto’s aide-de-camp, Colonel Fabian Lengusuranga.
Damaris Agnetta Apondi was appointed in September 2022 after President Ruto assumed office, succeeding Lieutenant Colonel Rachel Nduta, who served under retired President Uhuru Kenyatta.
An aide-de-camp is chosen by the President of his or her own volition, and should be a member of the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF).
An aide-de-camp is a principal military officer serving the president, and is a highly-trained senior military officer who must be part of the president’s itinerary at all times.
President Ruto also flagged off the athletics team for the International Sports Federation (ISF) world cross country, at the Sagana State Lodge in Nyeri.
The team will represent the country during the competition to be staged at the Ngong Racecourse from May 9 to May 14, 2023.
“We are supporting our education institutions to identify and nurture talents at the grassroots so that our youth can optimally monetise their talents,” said the Head of State.
Meanwhile, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki has once again topped the list of top performing Cabinet Secretaries (CSs), according to a new report released by Politrack Africa.
His Agriculture counterpart Mithika Linturi emerged second best. The pollster attributed changes in the agriculture sector such as digitization as a key driver for growth especially in farming to the CSs top performance. However, the CS is also under the radar over the fake fertilizer scandal.
Cooperatives Cabinet Secretary Simon Chelugui was number 3, while Trade and Investments Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano emerged 4th best and only lady in the top 5 category.
“While some cabinet secretaries have demonstrated effective leadership, policy innovation, and service delivery, others have faced challenges related but not limited to proper formulation of good impactful projects, misappropriation of public funds, inefficiencies, and failures in meeting public expectations,” the agency said.
Kakamega Governor Fernandez Baraza emerged best in the counties category, with his counterparts from Tharaka Nithi Muthomi Njuki and Narok’s Patrick Ole Ntuntu tying at second-best, while Isiolo Governor Abdi Guyo emerged third best.
Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro was ranked the best-performing legislator. His Westlands counterpart Tim Wanyonyi emerged second best and Kabete MP James Githua Wamacukuru and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino tied at the number 3 position.
The survey was conducted between the 11th to 18th of March 2024, through phone calls and online voting.