NAIROBI, Kenya – President William Ruto has nominated Hanna Wendot Cheptumo, widow of the late Baringo Senator William Cheptumo, as the Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Gender, Culture, Arts, and Heritage.
The announcement, made by Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service Felix Koskei, stated that Wendot’s nomination will now proceed to Parliament for vetting and approval as required by the Constitution.
If confirmed, she will fill the vacant position and join the Cabinet to spearhead critical national policies in her ministry.
The Ministry of Gender, Culture, Arts, and Heritage has been without a Cabinet Secretary since August 2024, when Stella Soi Lang’at’s nomination was rejected by the National Assembly Committee on Appointments.
In its report, the committee, chaired by Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, deemed Lang’at unsuitable for the role, citing her lack of adequate knowledge and expertise in the ministry’s key areas.
The rejection created a leadership void in a strategically important ministry responsible for gender equality, cultural preservation, and heritage management.
Wendot’s nomination marks President Ruto’s commitment to addressing the leadership gap and ensuring that the ministry has competent leadership to drive its mandate forward.
Koskei noted that the President expressed his confidence in Wendot’s ability to take on the role and extended his congratulations to her, alongside Mbeere North MP Geoffrey Ruku, who has been nominated for the Public Service docket.
“The President has congratulated the nominees on their nominations and conveyed his best wishes as they undergo the requisite parliamentary approval process in fulfillment of the legal requirements set under our Constitution,” Koskei stated.
The nomination of Wendot Cheptumo comes at a critical time for the Ministry of Gender, Culture, Arts, and Heritage, which plays a key role in fostering social cohesion, promoting cultural heritage, and advancing gender equality in Kenya.
Her leadership, if approved, is expected to steer the ministry towards fulfilling its mandate effectively while addressing challenges highlighted during the rejection of her predecessor’s nomination.
