President William Ruto chairs a Cabinet meeting at State House, Nairobi.
In what promises to be a tumultuous political season next year, President William Ruto has controversially ordered Cabinet Secretaries to take charge of his re-election campaign.
In turn, the ministers have led political drives in their counties, promoting the Kenya Kwanza administration through partisan programmes disguised as development projects.
“I will take charge of leading this region in supporting President Ruto. We don’t want our people misled into backing politicians who have no chance in the coming elections,” Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi said at a recent event in Siaya County.
Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi.
Disguised as development tours, the Cabinet Secretaries have launched an aggressive drive to drum up support for the President while highlighting projects implemented by the administration.
Seasoned politicians
Seen as grassroots mobilisers, some ministers in the Kenya Kwanza government are seasoned politicians with significant clout, having previously served as MPs, senators, or governors. They play a key role in influencing support in a country where politics is still largely shaped along ethnic lines.
Some Cabinet Secretaries were heavily involved in the November 27 by-elections, in which parties allied to the broad-based government won all seven parliamentary seats. Following the results, President Ruto reportedly instructed his ministers to oversee his re-election campaigns in their respective areas.
The late Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s strongholds in Nyanza, Coast, Western Kenya, and Kisii are key vote baskets targeted in the new strategy.
The populous Mt Kenya region, which helped sweep Dr Ruto to power in 2022 but is now perceived to be drifting after the October 2024 impeachment of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, is also a major focus.
Led campaigns
In the November 27 mini-polls, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki and Public Service CS Geoffrey Ruku led campaigns in Mbeere North, while Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi oversaw the contest in Malava.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki congratulates Leo Muthende of UDA after he was declared the winner in the Mbeere North by-election.
In Ugunja, Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi secured the seat after leading the campaign for the broad-based government camp, while Mining CS Hassan Joho mobilised Coast politicians to deliver the Magarini parliamentary seat.
The mini-polls were widely seen as a referendum on President Ruto’s administration, which has struggled for support following the nationwide June 2024 Gen Z protests.
After the violent anti-government demonstrations, President Ruto turned to then-opposition leader Raila Odinga to stabilise his administration, resulting in the appointment of five ODM members to the Cabinet. Mr Odinga died in October.
The by-elections were also seen as litmus tests to gauge political sentiment, particularly in the populous Mt Kenya region, following the bitter fallout between the President and Mr Gachagua.
Dr Ruto’s new strategy involves several Cabinet members, including Prof Kindiki, Mr Mudavadi, Mr Wandayi, Mr Ruku, Mr John Mbadi (Treasury), Mr Lee Kinyanjui (Trade), and Ms Alice Wahome (Lands). Others are Mr Joho, Cooperative CS Wycliffe Oparanya, his Labour counterpart Alfred Mutua, and Sports ministry boss Salim Mvurya, all of whom served two terms as governors before joining the Cabinet.
Mr Wandayi outlined the new game plan in a statement over the weekend in Siaya.
He said he will lead President Ruto’s re-election campaign in the region and has already met with Siaya MPs, who pledged to back the President for a second term.
2027 presidential race
Mr Wandayi added that even if ODM fields a candidate, he would still spearhead support for Dr Ruto, asserting, “No other politician has a chance in the 2027 presidential race.”
“We have no alternative but to fight to remain in and form the next government. We must strategise well to succeed. Being in opposition is the toughest job, I swear. If you do not have a seat at the table where the national cake is shared, it amounts to nothing,” Mr Wandayi added.
At the same event, Gem MP Elisha Odhiambo described Mr Wandayi as the senior-most politician in Siaya.
“For us people from Siaya, the senior-most leader is Wandayi, followed by the governor, MPs, deputy governor and MCAs. The spirit of Raila is still present, and I believe it might fall on one of us, and that is who we will follow. As Siaya people, we are praying it falls on someone from Siaya,” said Mr Odhiambo.
By-election success
Similarly, Prof Kindiki last Wednesday met with 60 Kenya Kwanza MPs at his official residence in Karen to discuss how to replicate their by-election success in the 2027 contest. The MPs came from Embu, Meru, Tharaka Nithi, Murang’a, Nyeri, Nyandarua, Kiambu, Kirinyaga, Laikipia, Nakuru, Nairobi and Lamu counties.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki meets Mt Kenya Kenya Kwanza MPs at his official residence in Karen.
“I thanked them for their dedication, commitment and teamwork, which secured the election of Leo Wa Muthende of UDA as the Mbeere North MP.”
The meeting also reviewed progress on key development projects in their constituencies and agreed on measures to expedite ongoing work.
During the by-election campaigns, Prof Kindiki positioned himself as the new Mt Kenya kingpin in a political contest with Mr Gachagua.
“Who elected him spokesman of the region? I am the king of the mountain, with nearly 20 years as an elected leader. I represented former President Uhuru Kenyatta and President William Ruto at the ICC,” he said.
“This man has been bragging that he’s the king, yet we are the ones fighting for development. He held a big office but did nothing to improve lives in this region. I will remain here until the by-election concludes and will ensure our candidate is sworn in as the new MP.”
Mr Mbadi has also been on the campaign trail, rallying the Luo community to back Dr Ruto’s re-election.
Political engagements
“Whenever I’m in Eldoret, I make it a point to meet the Luo community in the Langas area. We discussed their welfare and development, and they assured us of their support for the broad-based government,” Mr Mbadi said on Sunday in Langas.
Treasury and National Planning Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi.
He has also held a series of political engagements in his home county of Homa Bay, highlighting Kenya Kwanza's achievements and ongoing development projects.
Dr Mutua and Mr Joho have similarly toured their Ukambani and Coast regions to drum up support for Dr Ruto.
The involvement of Cabinet Secretaries in campaigns has remained a contentious issue during every election cycle, with opposition leaders consistently protesting the participation of state officers in political activities.
Breach of the law
Kitui Senator Enoch Wambua, a close ally of Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, described such engagement as a breach of the law.
“All Cabinet ministers, without exception, know they serve in a regime that claims zero tolerance for breaches of the law. They are aware of the blatant violations committed by their own administration. For them to break the law on the neutrality of their office is unacceptable,” he said.
“But let it be known to each one of them that accountability for the rule of law is a personal responsibility. There were Cabinet ministers before this regime. There will be Cabinet secretaries after this regime. When it is time for accountability, very soon, each one of them will carry their own cross,” said Mr Wambua.
But Head of the Presidential Communication Service (PCS), Mr Munyori Buku, said the CSs were simply carrying out their mandate of public participation on government policies and implementing development projects across the country.
Presidential petition
“I don’t know where politics begin and end. These are leaders engaging in public participation, launching projects and following up on their implementation,” said Mr Buku.
In his 2017 presidential petition, Mr Odinga alleged improper conduct by several CSs for purportedly campaigning for President Kenyatta’s re-election. He argued that, as public officers, CSs are prohibited under the Constitution, the Political Parties Act, the Public Officer Ethics Act, and the Election Offences Act from participating in political activities. He sought prosecution of the implicated CSs and urged the Supreme Court to declare Section 23 of the Leadership and Integrity Act unconstitutional, saying it exempted CSs from impartiality requirements under Article 232 of the Constitution.
Section 23 provides that an appointed state officer, other than a CS or a member of a County Executive Committee (CEC), shall not, in performing their duties, act as an agent for, or further the interests of, any political party or candidate, or manifest support or opposition in an election.
Active politics
While the apex court nullified the presidential vote outcome, it rejected Odinga’s claims regarding CS involvement in political campaigns. The court ruled that CSs and CECs may engage in active politics as they serve at the pleasure of the President or governor.
“They are political appointees tasked with delivering on the manifesto of their appointing authority or political party. This is an essential aspect of a political government in any democracy,” the court said.
The court acknowledged that Section 23 is ambiguous because it exempts CSs from the prohibition on political activity but declined Odinga’s request to declare it unconstitutional.
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