Turf wars have rocked President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Cabinet following his elevation of Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i to oversee all national development projects.
The Star has established that a number of CSs, some allied to Uhuru, some to DP William Ruto, are unhappy with the new arrangement which essentially makes hard-headed, results-oriented Matiang’i their boss.
Despite the disquiet, Matiang’i yesterday chaired his first meeting of six Cabinet secretaries and top political leaders from Nyanza.
The meeting reviewed an implementation plan for stalled, ongoing and new regional projects following Uhuru’s directive after his tour of Kisumu last month. The meeting was the clearest signal that political leaders may never flock to Ruto’s office again to seek development and other benefits.
Last week, Uhuru established a four-tier executive authority with Matiang’i as the head of the powerful National Development Implementation and Communication Cabinet Committee. The Cabinet subcommittee has sweeping powers and pundits say the elevation makes Matiang’i ‘Chief Minister’, greatly diminishing the Deputy President’s influence in government.