Shocking Reason Why Henry Rotich Rejected Ruto’s Appointment

Former Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich has declined a job offer from President William Ruto, who appointed him as the Senior Adviser on Fiscal Affairs and Budget Policy.

The appointment, conveyed in a letter from the Head of the Public Service Felix Koskei, was met with Rotich’s refusal, as he expressed his intention to not take up the role.

Rotich conveyed his belief that he could serve the country better if deployed to the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK), where he had previously worked for many years.

He expressed gratitude for the appointment but emphasized his desire to return to CBK, where he felt he could contribute effectively.

Should he be deployed to CBK, Rotich would serve under his former subordinate Kamau Thugge, who was Treasury PS during Rotich’s tenure as CS. Rotich, a seasoned economist who held the position of head of Macroeconomics at the Treasury before becoming a Cabinet Secretary in 2013, was relieved of his duties on January 14, 2020, following a court case involving allegations of procurement and public finance management breaches.

Following Rotich’s departure, Ukur Yatani assumed the role until Njuguna Ndung’u was appointed as Treasury CS by Ruto in 2022.

However, in December 2023, the court dropped the charges against Rotich and other accused persons due to lack of evidence. Trial Magistrate Eunice Nyutu acquitted all accused individuals, citing the prosecution’s failure to provide sufficient evidence.

Rotich, a graduate of the University of Nairobi with a Master’s degree in Economics and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Sociology, has expressed his willingness to serve the country in a capacity where he believes he can make the most significant impact, indicating a preference for a return to the central bank.