Musalia Mudavadi assigned Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Ruto’s first Cabinet reshuffle
President William Ruto with his Cabinet Secretaries during a Cabinet meeting at Sagana State Lodge, Nyeri County. Dr Ruto has moved seven CSs in his first cabinet reshuffle announced on Wednesday, October 4 evening.
What you need to know:
- Musalia Mudavadi assigned Ministry Foreign and Diaspora Affairs as Alfred Mutua moved to Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife as eight CSs affected.
- Moses Kuria moved from Ministry of Trade to Public Service, his place taken by Rebecca Miano, the outgoing East African Community CS.
- Alice Wahome moved to Lands as Zacharia Njeru takes over as Water CS; Peninah Malonza moved to EAC, Aisha Jumwa to Ministry of Gender.
- Ministry of Gender, Culture, the Arts and Heritage created.
President William Ruto has reshuffled his Cabinet, giving Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi more roles and responsibilities.
Mr Mudavadi will now double as Foreign and Diaspora Affairs CS after Alfred Mutua was moved to Tourism and Wildlife.
"His Excellency the President, in exercise of the presidential prerogative vested in the Head of State and Government .... , has reorganised the executive. As a result of the presidential action, changes have been made to the portfolio mandates of ministries and state departments," State House said in a release last night.
It's worth noting that the head of state has not removed any members of the executive in the changes, only moved them around.
In the changes, he shifted functions and reconstituted some ministries.
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A few months ago, he publicly lambasted his cabinet, accusing some of them of being clueless in matters concerning their portfolios.
"You know there's a problem when I know what's going on in the tour schedules better than you do," he said.
The comment was seen by pundits as setting the stage for the reshuffle. Many said at the time that it was the clearest signal that Dr Ruto was showing some of his ministers the door.
Mr Mudavadi's elevation immediately excited his social media base, which may not bode well for Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
Those around the DP see Mr Mudavadi as his checkmate in government, with suggestions that he could well be the president's running mate in 2027.
To sack or not to sack is a delicate decision for the president, who is keen to win a second term, especially as most of his CS are politicians who control key regions whose votes he's keen to retain. This may have been the saving grace for some, who are said to have performed dismally.
Tender interests, infighting in some CSs and reports from the National Intelligence Service (NIS) are said to have influenced the president's move.
On the other hand, Trade CS Moses Kuria has been moved to Public Service, Performance and Delivery Management.
This is likely to be seen by observers as a demotion, given the clout and budget of the new ministry.
Mr Kuria's days at the NSSF building were long overdue after he missed two presidential trips to the US.
On one of them, former CS Adan Mohamed was introduced as the substantive office-holder, although he's really just an advisor to the president.
A few weeks ago, US Trade Representative Katherine Tai said she had not met her Kenyan counterpart Kuria on her tour of the country, but refused to explain why, perhaps reflecting the reputational damage done to the Kenyan minister. Instead, she referred media enquiries to State House.
Instead, she met with other Kenyan officials to discuss the US Strategic Trade and Investment Partnership (Stip) and the US-East Africa Community Tifa Council with EAC trade ministers.
Mr Kuria’s place has been taken by Ms Rebecca Miano, who headed the Ministry of East African Community and Asals.
Ms Peninah Malonza takes over Ms Miano's former portfolio, while Ms Alice Wahome, who has been embroiled in disputes with Water PS Kiprono Rono, moves to the Ministry of Lands, swapping places with Mr Zakaria Mwangi Njeru.
Ms Aisha Jumwa has been moved from the civil service to the gender ministry.
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The reshuffle by Dr Ruto will be seen by many as stabilising his ship in what was becoming a Tower of Babel with members of the cabinet talking at cross-purposes.
A number of Principal Secretaries were also affected with Harsama Kello moving to Asals, Julius Korir to Water, Geofrey Kaituko to Marine, Shadrack Mwadime to Labour, Paul Rono to Crops, Salim Dokota to Cabinet Affairs, Anne Wang'ombe to Gender and Veronica Nduva to Performance and Delivery.
The changes come at a time when some senior members of the ruling party have intensified calls for some ministers to be sacked over the high cost of living, exacerbated by rising fuel prices and the weakening Kenyan shilling, and arrogance by government officials.
Days before Dr Ruto's announcement, several Cabinet Secretaries had become targets of UDA leaders in recent weeks, accused of poor performance.
CSs Kuria, Ababu Namwamba (Sports), Davis Chirchir (Energy) and Economic Advisor to the President David Ndii are some of the top government officials who have been publicly attacked by the President's close allies in Parliament, with some baying for their blood.
Those not named in the presidential directive retained their positions.
