All but one CS Simon Chelugui were overlooked by President Ruto when he named his cabinet on Tuesday. President Ruto reassigned the Labour and Social Protection CS to the Cooperatives docket. Mr Chelugui previously served as the Cabinet Secretary for Water, Sanitation and Irrigation during Uhuru’s presidency.

Monica Juma, is another survivor although she did not make it to be a cabinet secretary. The former Energy CS has been nominated to be an advisor on national security, a position President ruto termed as a cabinet level appointment.

There are some names which always popped up when speculations were made over who could be selected to the cabinet but they have surprisingly missed out on the final list. Some of them were seen to have been integral members of the president’s presidential campaign while others were seen be very close to the president.

Josphat Nanok

The former Turkana county two-term Governor was very instrumental to President Ruto’s successful stab at the presidency. He served as his national agent at the national tallying center in Bomas. The former ODM vice chairman was expected to feature in the ‘Bottom Up’ cabinet but it seems the president had other plans.

Ndindi Nyoro

The youthful and firebrand Kiharu MP was thought to have a chance of becoming  a Cabinet Secretary with the second term legistlator being seen to be a very close ally to the president. Mr Nyoro was even seen accompanying President Ruto on his tour to the US when he attended the 77th edition of the United Nations General Assembly

Okoth Obado

The two term Migori Governor was expected to have a major role in the Ruto administration as he went against the grain in Nyanza to support Dr Ruto’s bid. With Nyanza being Dr Ruto’s main competitor in the last polls Raila Odinga’s political bastion, it was a hard task that befell Mr Obado- a former high school principal. Many thought that he would be put in the cabinet to represent Luo Nyanza for purposes of regional balance, but president Ruto instead opted for Eliud Owalo who has since been given the ICT docket.

Others who may have been overlooked include Hassan Omar the former Mombasa senator, Cate Waruguru who served as Laikipia county MP, Farida Karoney former Lands CS, David Ndii the Kenya Kwanza economic advisor, Cleo Malala the former Kakamega senator among others.