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Nine Cabinet and Principal Secretaries face exit as Ruto readies for third shakeup

President William Ruto is working hard to firm up his re-election strategy by reconfiguring his administration to both fulfil his development agenda and take care of regions he is seeking to win to be assured of victory.

Since the Gen Z uprising in June-July 2024, president Ruto has made changes to his cabinet twice and is said to be preparing for another shuffle, which could this time see some of those deemed to linked to ousted deputy Rigathi Gachagua, especially among Principal Secretaries, shown the door.

According to sources familiar with the president’s strategy, most of the victims are from the Mt Kenya region, which Ruto has been struggling to calm since Gachagua’s impeachment sparked discontent towards the Kenya Kwanza administration.

Some of the those from the region likely to be affected are Alice Wahome (Lands) and Rebecca Miano (Tourism and Wildlife).  Secretary to the Cabinet Mercy Wanjau is also rumoured to be on the chopping board.

Though she hails from Western, Health CS Debora Barasa could also face an ouster as her ministry has been in the focus over conflicts among top officials.

Among PS, insiders says those likely to be left out are Dr Patrick Mariru (Defence), Mary Muthoni, ( Public Health, and Professional Standards), Alex Machira, (Energy); Joseph M. Mbugua (Roads), Roseline Njogu (Diaspora Affairs) and Elijah Mwangi (Mining).

Despite replacing Gachagua with Prof Kithure Kindiki, the move has not helped cool the situation and is been resisted in some quarters as a bid to pit Mt Kenya West against Mt Kenya East as part of a divide and rule strategy.

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But even in Mt Kenya East, the president’s profile remains battered with residents of Embu booing him last year when he sought to promote his pet programmes in health and education and recently rejected the reading of his condolence message at a burial in the area by Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi to protest rising abductions.

Muturi’s stay in the Cabinet has since become virtually untenable after he took on the government on Sunday over the issue, including one involving his son Leslie last June at the height of the Gen Z protests.

He has since put the focus yet again on the National Intelligence Service (NIS) after he told police yesterday that Leslie was released after days in custody by the spy agency.

He added that this happened after President Ruto called its Director General Noordin Haji and directed that he be let free after confirming he was been held by them.

At the height of the Gen Z protests, Gachagua had sensationally put Haji on the spot for allegedly failing to read the mood of Kenyans and advice the president properly with regard to the proposals to introduce new taxes.

It is one of the grounds for which he was impeached.

Former Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi also on Sunday met with Ruto at State House sparking speculation they discussed the situation in the region with a view to pacifying it through accommodation in the senior ranks of his administration.

It came days after the former Energy minister, who chairs the board of the National Oil Corporation, bitterly complained that his Meru backyard.

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He noted that the county did not have even a single PS despite voting

Sources indicate that in the impending reshuffle, which will follow the submission of persons to be appointed PSs by the Public Service Commission, Ruto will seek to take care of political interests even as he balances it with delivery.

It is worth of note that key allies of ODM leader Raila Odinga are among those who made it to the PSC shortlist.

After Ruto dissolved his entire Cabinet in the wake of the Gen Z  revolt, Raila agreed to have key party officials appointed as CSs to help him steady the ship and address grievances expressed over lack of inclusivity.

They are John Mbadi (National Treasury), Hassan Joho (Mining), Wycliffe Oparanya (Cooperatives and MSMEs Development), Opiyo Wandayi (Energy) and Beatrice Akul ( East African Affairs).

Following Gachagua’s revolt, Ruto also moved to nominated politicians allied of former president Uhuru Kenyatta to Cabinet and others to key parastatals.

Mutahi Kagwe, Lee Kinyanjui and William Kabogo have already been vetted by the National Assembly and will  replace Dr Andrew Karanja (Agriculture), and Dr Margaret Nyambura (ICT and Digital Economy) respectively if approved.

The latter two were seen as incapable of helping Ruto make fresh inroads in the region, being non-politicians.

Earlier, he had appointed former Public Service CS Moses Kuria as a senior economic advisor.

To address Kiraitu’s concerns, it is rumoured that Ruto may sacrifice Water CS Eric Muuga and bring in a seasoned hand like former governor Peter Munya and also name a few PSs from the region.

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Political Analyst and Governance Expert Javans Bigambo agrees that, at the moment, President Ruto is looking at 2027, including by ensuring political stability, a key factor if his manifesto is to be realised..

“The President is intentional with all his moves even though some might appear controversial. The head of state wants political stability but also loyalty as such it is incumbent upon him to reorganise his administration at his pleasure. There has been a bit of disgruntles and murmurs from some sections of the country but I do not think for example the President has an issue with some of his electorate per se.”

Bigambo adds: “The purge will tell us something about President Ruto. The main thing is that he detests his former Deputy and his brand of aggressive politics. Gachagua is now trying to sway the Mountain off the grip of Ruto by using local leaders to discredit the President. This is why the President has to be smart and replace whoever goes out with another figure from the same region to try and appease them.”

“Rigathi has clout and influence mostly due to sympathy as a result of his impeachment and he is using that fully to poison the ground for President Ruto.”

  • Additional reporting by Barry Obel 

 

 

 

 

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