Ababu Namwamba's net worth increases by Ksh.75 million in two years

He revealed this on Friday during the vetting before the National Assembly Committee of Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations. 

His net worth represents an increase of Ksh.75 million in two years from his previous vetting as Sports Cabinet Secretary where he declared his net worth as Ksh.425 million. 

"I have two residents in Nairobi and Busia, business interests, shareholdings and pension. That has been compounded to Ksh.500 million," Namwamba stated. 

The nominee did not divulge details of the exact dividends but revealed that his shareholdings were in mega companies such as Safaricom, Cooperative Bank and Kenya Power. 

"Indeed I have provided a statement that I would expect my income from my holdings. I hold some interest in Safaricom, Coop Bank, and Kenya Power and I have indicated without providing specifics because ordinarily, you would not know the dividends accrued to you in a specific cycle. 

During the vetting, Namwamba informed the Committee of his suitability for the role, citing that he was tailor-made to represent Kenya at the United Nations. 

Further, he revealed that President William Ruto had explained to him the roles of the pivotal position in a meeting at State House, Nairobi before making the nominations public. 

"The President invited me to a sitting to discuss this responsibility before it was made public. I know exactly what he expects of me in this role because he personally explained it to me," he added. 

Namwamba was nominated alongside three others; former ICT CS Margaret Nyambura Ndung'u (High Commissioner in Ghana), Gertrude Angote (High Commission in Zimbabwe) and former Agriculture CS Andrew Karanja (Kenya's Ambassador to Brazil). 

The former ICT CS, however, declined the nomination, citing personal reasons.