Reshuffle Cabinet if it will spur development

The recent decision by President Uhuru Kenyatta (pictured) to send all cabinet members on a 14-day working leave during the second half of August has set tongues wagging about a potential cabinet reshuffle.

Everyone, from Cabinet Secretaries and Principal Secretaries to Chief Administrative Secretaries and the Attorney-General will only be needed at work during this period in case of a national emergency. 

This is, first of all, an indication that the government sees the Covid-19 crisis as under control during the coming weeks. This confidence is a good sign for how our country is handling the global health pandemic. In some countries where leaders have been forced under public pressure to make quick changes to their coronavirus policies and open up too early, the repercussions have been felt.

By now it is already clear that the health crisis shows no sign of abating, and there is no need for rash decision making. Any changes in terms of regulations with regard to the shutdown need not occur at the drop of a pin.

President Uhuru Kenyatta seems to be taking it slowly and making sure all the facts are on the table without jumping to make any changes. This kind of thoughtful precision is a much safer approach than making decisions at a whim, as we have seen done amongst many other global leaders over the past few months.

Furthermore, the 14-day working leave for Cabinet members is reportedly seen as a way for the President to be able to focus on what he was elected to do - implementing the developmental and growth-centred policies of the Big Four Agenda.

There is a lot of noise in the background of Kenyan politics these days - especially because we are dealing with an international pandemic. That is noise that needs to be dealt with, but it also should not detract from long standing goals that we are working as a country to achieve. 

With less than two years left before President Kenyatta retires and passes the baton onto whomever the Kenyan public next elects, he has his work set out for him. The Big Four Agenda - which focuses on universal health coverage (UHC), building more affordable housing, achieving and maintaining food security, and increasing local manufacturing - was designed to pinpoint exactly what Kenya needs to make the change from low income to medium income country classification.

Certainly, recent global circumstances will slow down the pace at which we achieve these goals. Kenya is not immune to the shrinking global economy, which is taking down every country in its wake. As part of an interconnected world, we could not remain completely immune to the damage of 2020.

But if the administration continues to keep its eyes on the prize - growing Kenya’s economy and maintaining our international image as the world’s foremost partner in Africa for trade, security and cooperation - then we are going to get there eventually. There are many distractions on the way, especially when the goals we are talking about are extremely long term and designed to continue to be part of Kenyan public policy well into the future.

Therefore, it is reassuring to note that Uhuru is not letting chaos reign as we have seen in other countries, but rather is acting in a measured and calculated manner. There is no need for rash decision-making, especially at times like these. 

The speculation that the President is also working on reorganising a government that would include members of the Opposition is also a testament to his sustained efforts to form not only a more cohesive government, but a cohesive nation. 

It has been clear for too long that if members of certain tribes and adherents to certain political persuasions are not or do not feel represented, the nation will not be unified enough to grow, thrive and flourish. We have a history of not getting along in this country, especially when some communities are used to not having their voices heard in government.

While change is in order, this change must be gradual, thought out and well planned. Long-lasting progress does not occur overnight, and it is reassuring to see that our president is thinking not only about his own term, but also how to leave a stable legacy with lots of growth potential for his successor. 

Mr Mugolla is a public policy analyst. bmugolla@gmail.com