Ukur Yattani speaks for first time after appointment as acting Treasury Cabinet Secretary by President Uhuru Kenyatta

Ukur Yattani's first message after appointment as acting Treasury CS

Mumbi Mutuko

July 24, 2019 4:31 PM

CS Yattani's message

Acting Treasury Cabinet Secretary Ukur Yattani

Cabinet Secretary Ukur Yattani has issued a statement moments after State House announced his appointment as acting Treasury Cabinet Secretary.

The CS thanked President Uhuru Kenyatta and promised to bring discipline in the docket.

"I thank the President for appointing me as acting CS for Treasury and I promise to do my best," Yattani stated.

The CS acknowledged that he had a tough task ahead as the shilling had hit a 20-month low against the dollar while the foreign-listed Eurobonds fell after the arrest of Henry Rotich.

Acting Treasury Cabinet Secretary Ukur Yattani Pulse Live Kenya

"I will strive to ensure the soundness of the economy by giving priority to the areas that will support the government Big Four agenda," he added.

Yattani's promise

CS Yattani noted that Kenyans expected a lot from him and promised to uphold the highest level of discipline in the docket that has been rocked with graft allegations.

His appointment as the acting Treasury CS comes after the arrest of Mr Roctich, PS Kamau Thugge and other top government officials on corruption charges.

The arrest of Mr Rotich left a vacuum at the Ministry of Finance which saw the shilling lose ground against the US dollar sinking to levels last seen in November 2017.

CS Henry Rotich, PS Kamau Thugge and PS Susan Koech at the Milimani law court Pulse Live Kenya

The Kenyan currency traded at 103.67 units to the dollar Monday, slipping from Friday’s Sh103.1, according to Central Bank of Kenya data.

Kenya’s Eurobonds at the international markets also took a hit with Reuters reporting that Kenya’s dollar bonds maturing in 2028, 2032 and 2048 slipped around 0.5 cents.

Mumbi Mutuko