NAIROBI, July 24 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta on Wednesday appointed Ukur Yatani as the acting National Treasury cabinet secretary, replacing Henry Rotich who was charged over the dams scandal.
Yatani who is the labor and social protection cabinet secretary will be deputized by Julius Muia who was appointed the principal secretary at the Treasury.
Muia replaces Kamau Thugge who was charged in court alongside 28 other suspects were on Tuesday arrested and charged over 65 billion shillings (650 million U.S. dollar) project to build two dams.
Kenyatta said the new appointments are to ensure smooth operations and continuity at the national treasury and in line ministries following the court order affecting both Rotich and Thugge.
Kenyatta also appointed Gordon Kihalangwa as the defence principal secretary.
Kihalangwa was previously the Immigration principal secretary and takes over from Torome Saitoti who has been moved to the State Department of Planning in the same capacity.
Yatani 52, was nominated as labor cabinet secretary in January 2018 in cabinet changes. He had previously served as Marsabit Governor from 2013 to 2017.
The changes came after the two Treasury chiefs were released on 150,000 U.S. dollar bail on Tuesday and ordered to stay away from their offices following an application by the prosecution.
