The appointment of the former Treasury CS Henry Rotich late in the week to a key position as the Senior Advisor on Fiscal Affairs and Budget Policy has added into the growing list of consultants President William Ruto has head-hunted to help him deliver his plan.
The appointment also shines a spotlight on the president and his unique system of administration where he has advisors as well as cabinet secretaries.
Rotich was acquitted in late December, four years after he was charged with a myriad of causes related to the construction of the Sh63 billion Arror and Kimwarer dams in Elgeyo Marakwet.
"I am happy and thank the Head of State for his appointment and the confidence he has in me. I am committed to giving his government the best I can on my service," said Rotich.
In President Ruto's administration, unlike his predecessor Uhuru Kenyatta's, senior officials have to contend with a boss who demands finer details in their operations.
Apart from the President's inner circle who wield power at all levels and handle the things the President cannot handle, Ruto has two circles of power.
With a full cabinet in place, President Ruto has constituted an entire team of advisors whom he consults regularly on thematic issues at some levels rendering the ministers as the official figureheads.
Uhuru and Mzee Mwai Kibaki were not known to publicly engage their advisors but Ruto has overtly engaged them exposing his other part of the government.
In recent months, some advisors have overshadowed the CSs in running of the government with their presence in and out government and at times accompanying the President in his foreign trips even when the substantial docket holders were left in Nairobi. From economics to agriculture, health, energy and several other departments, Ruto has placed key persons away from the cabinet secretaries that he regularly seeks their opinions on key areas.
Rotich took over the key role of the Senior Advisor on Fiscal Affairs and Budget Policy formerly held by Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) governor Kamau Thugge. He will be tasked with the development and analysis of the budget which includes auditing the financial implications of proposed policies, scrutinising government revenues and expenditures, and forecasting deficits and debt levels.
Rotich is the new entrant in a team of top league advisors mostly former senior leaders in Kibaki and Uhuru governments.
In the economic sphere, apart from the National Treasury Cabinet Secretary Prof Njuguna Ndung'u, Ruto is surrounded by economic advisors including former CS Aden Mohamed currently Chief of Strategy Execution, Executive Office of the President, and Chairman of the Presidential Council of Economic Advisor David Ndii, and Senior Advisor and Head of Economic Transformation Secretariat, Augustine Cheruiyot and Dr Nancy Laibuta as the associate member of the presidential team of advisors. Ruto's advisors are not a one-man office and some have a team to work with in execution of their duties.
