By Hope Barbra
The controversial former senator Gloria Orwoba has revealed that President William Ruto trusted Dr Raymond Omollo even before he appointed him to the powerful docket of as the permanent secretary for Internal Security and Administration permanent secretary.
Speaking during an interview, Orwoba also claimed some of permanent secretaries closed to her detested Omollo’s closeness with the president.
She said the permanent secretaries were concerned by Omollo’s closeness to the president and his often accompanying to functions and thus making him the President’s blue-eyed boy.
Orwoba said Omollo earned his appointment for having delivered for President Ruto in the 2022 presidential elections.
Orwoba said in 2022 Ruto then deputy president and Kenya Kwanza presidential candidate asked her to contact Omollo so that they could organize logistics and presidential election program for Nyanza.
“Omollo did a good job. Ray and his team after elections went around to pick form 34A at gun point it was a daring moment, but they braved it.
Even when ODM went to court to challenge the election results, they had to rely on our forms from Nyanza because we did a good job. ODM was disorganized and didn’t have the forms.
People who don’t know him wondered how he got into the space. He worked for it, and this is the truth.
The president trusted him and even when the president would call and asked me how we were doing in terms of work, I would tell him, Ray is doing a good job. He helped relieve us of the burden the logistic burden. He did a good job, and I didn’t have an issue with him. He made our work of coordination easier and achievable.
There was a group of PSs who were witch hunting him, they tried to tell the president negative things about him, but the president never listened to them. They would come and tell me, Ray thinks he is superior, and he thinks he is the blue-eyed boy.
I told them you don’t know him, he is professional, give him a chance and you will understand him. Honestly, he is a good person, and we have no point of departure,” she said.
Former deputy President Rigathi Gachagua during Dr Omollo thanksgiving in his Kanyipir village in Karachuonyo in 2023, said President Ruto made a great choice in Omollo.
“President William Ruto made the right choice of making Dr Omollo the Internal Security permanent secretary.
I wanted the position of the permanent secretary of internal security to be given to my person, But the president told me, for that post, I already have someone. Let’s talk about of the posts.
I did not Know Dr Omollo then, but I can confirm here that President Ruto made the best choice. Dr Omollo has served the president and the nation with dedication, honesty and commitment which is above reapproach.
I want to say, Dr Omollo is a great worker, and I accept the president wisdom to give him the post despite Nyanza having voted for the Azimio Presidential candidate. The president has been vindicated in his choice,” he said then.
Omollo former boss then and now the deputy president Prof Abraham Kindiki Kithure said it was a wise choice by the president to appoint Raymond to the powerful office.
“Your Excellency, I am here to say that you made no mistake in appointing Raymond. He is trustworthy. I can say without fear of contradiction that the choice of Dr Raymond Omollo was one of the most important decisions you made in your administration.
Raymond is disciplined, straight forward, humble, obedient to authority and is not given to drunkenness and other forms of indiscipline, between Raymond and I we will do the job you made us to do,” he said.
Omollo has been a cog in President Ruto’s charm in Nyanza and currently enjoy warm reception and support from the region, which was one hostile to him.
Omollo’s coordination skills has ensured that he doesn’t antagonize the local leadership with president Ruto.
MPs led by Sam Atandi, Jared Okello, Mark Nyamita among others have constantly praised Omollo for his role to the president and uniting the community.
Omollo has firmly established himself as one of the most effective and influential figures in President William Ruto’s administration.
Recognized as one of the top-performing Principal Secretaries, Omollo’s rise to prominence is a testament to his dedication, strategic acumen, and unwavering commitment to service delivery.
Since his appointment, Dr. Omollo has become the President’s go-to leader in the Nyanza region, a position that has not only solidified his influence but also transformed him into a key player in the national political landscape.
His leadership has been marked by significant achievements, particularly in enhancing national security, advocating for better working conditions for National Government Administration Officers (NGAOs), and securing salary increments for police officers.
These reforms have endeared him to Kenyans, who view him as a leader dedicated to improving the lives of those in the public service and ensuring the safety and security of the nation.
