The Cabinet Secretary for Petroleum and Mining John Munyes has tendered his resignation.

Munyes resigned on Tuesday in line with the provision of section 43 (5) of the Elections Act, 2011 that require those holding public offices and who wish to contest for any elective post in the forthcoming August 9, 2022, General Elections to resign.

Munyes resigns ahead of the February 9 deadline for persons holding public offices interested in political positions to vie for the seat of Turkana Governor in the August general election.

Munyes is the second Cabinet Secretary to resign after Devolution CS Charles Keter who resigned earlier on Tuesday.

Munyes has been the CS for Petroleum and Mining since January 2018 when President Uhuru Kenyatta appointed him to replace Keter.

Munyes cited the problems of Turkana as his basis of resignation.

“You know Turkana with all the problems it’s facing. With you people in the media always looking at the poverty there, lack of water, insecurity, illiteracy rate which is so high, the underdevelopment in Turkana, with over Sh12 billion shillings with support from the donors another Sh4 billion amounting to about Sh16 billion being received in Turkana…that is the matter that has actually fired me completely. To say there is need for a leader in Turkana who will get Turkana back to its how track,” Munyes said. 

Munyes has indicated that he will vie for the Turkana gubernatorial seat under the Raila Odinga-led Azimio la Umoja banner.

“I am going to run for a gubernatorial seat in Turkana. I want to travel with the right party, I’m with ‘Baba’. We want to run this time with Azimio in Turkana to ensure we win it. That’s the direction,” Munyes asserted.