Ruto's inner circle: The men calling shots

President William Ruto during a Press briefing where he nominated new Cabinet Secretaries and Attorney General at State House, Nairobi on July 19, 2024. [PCS]

In the wake of nationwide protests led by Gen Z which shook the foundations of President William Ruto’s administration, a new dynamic has emerged within the power matrix of the country’s top leadership.

Opposition leader Raila Odinga, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and National Intelligence Service Director-General Noordin Haji have become the most influential figures in President Ruto’s inner circle.

The protests, which erupted in response to perceived bad governance, left a trail of destruction across the country. According to the Kenya Human Rights Commission, 60 lives were lost, 415 individuals injured, and 66 people remain missing.

These tragic demonstrations forced President Ruto to reassess his leadership and seek counsel from unexpected quarters.

Multiple sources close to the presidency reveal that Ruto is working tirelessly to regain the public’s trust, especially as the 2027 general elections loom.

The protests exposed significant cracks within the civil service, which saw the leaking of sensitive details to the public. This placed Ruto in a precarious position, prompting him to reach out to his political rivals as well as restructure his government.

“When the country was in turmoil, former President Uhuru Kenyatta called me and asked me to reach out to Ruto to find a solution to the Gen Zs concerns,” Raila Odinga recounted during the burial of Chirchir Masit, the father of former Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission commissioner, Irene Masit. “We discussed the situation, and I shared my thoughts on how to address it.”

Odinga, who has often been a staunch critic of the Ruto administration, revealed that the country was on the brink of collapse.

He disclosed that he had a phone conversation with Ruto, where they agreed to meet and discuss the security situation. Odinga emphassed that the concerns raised by the young protesters were genuine and needed to be addressed, not dismissed.

“When we spoke, I told Ruto that those he put in government, especially in the Cabinet, were not serving the country and needed to be removed,” Odinga stated.

In a surprising move, Odinga allowed Ruto to appoint members of the opposition to his administration, a decision that has stirred significant debate within political circles.

Key figures from Odinga’s ODM party, including Chairman John Mbadi and Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi, have been appointed as Cabinet Secretaries for Treasury and Energy, respectively.

Other notable appointments include former Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho as Mining Cabinet Secretary, Wycliffe Oparanya as head of Cooperatives Development, and Salim Mvurya as Investment and Trade Cabinet Secretary.

Despite these appointments, Odinga remains adamant that he is not part of the government.
“We did not agree on a coalition government,” he clarified.

“Ruto asked me to help identify people from my side to serve in his administration, which I did. I am confident that we will advance as a nation.”

ODM National Chairperson Gladys Wanga said on Monday in a press statement that there is no agreement between ODM and Kenya Kwanza that makes the two joint partners in government.

She emphasised that no sane leader or political party should celebrate the collapse of the nation.

“The party leader has explained, and we reiterate, that ODM members have not joined the government as representatives of the party but as individuals whom the President felt have the capacity to add value to his administration and help the country achieve desired goals.

Consequently, when the President tapped these members, the party responded to the distress call of the nation and released them to serve the people of Kenya,” Wanga said.

While Raila Odinga has played a critical role in shaping the current political landscape, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has emerged as one of the most influential figures within Ruto’s administration. Insiders describe Mudavadi as a constant presence in Ruto’s daily life.

“On a typical day, Musalia meets or talks to Ruto not less than four times, seeking advice or being briefed,” said an aide to President Ruto.

Mudavadi’s influence was further solidified when Ruto appointed him as the acting Cabinet Secretary across all ministries, following the dismissal of all Cabinet Secretaries.
The decision, formalised in a special Gazette Notice dated July 11, came after Ruto dissolved the 21 Cabinet positions and the office of the Attorney General, declaring them officially vacant.

However, Mudavadi’s rise has not been without controversy. He has faced opposition from Deputy Presi.dent Rigathi Gachagua and Head of Public Service Felix Koskei over protocol and responsibilities, leading to the resignation of Mudavadi’s aide, Kibisu Kabatesi.

“Any public servant purporting to allocate ministerial locations or portfolios is misguided to the extent that they are attempting to usurp a function that belongs to the President,” Kabatesi said in a statement dated October 15, 2023.

“Additionally, portfolio designation is the prerogative of the President and cannot be usurped by a civil servant.

‘‘In the recent reorganisation of government, the State Department of Performance Management, under which the Public Service Performance Management Unit falls, was deployed to the Ministry of Public Service,” Kabatesi wrote.

Speaking on August 15 at the Heads of Supply Chain and Procurement Forum 2024 in Mombasa, Mudavadi emphasised that the Ruto administration is cautious to avoid public confrontations, particularly with the youth, who have been vocal in their protests against the rising cost of living, unemployment and bad governance.

Amid rising political temperature, National Intelligence Service (NIS) Director-General Noordin Haji has become a crucial figure in Ruto’s administration.

Tasked with navigating the volatile Gen Z protests, Haji has provided critical intelligence reports that Ruto has relied on to stabilise his government. However, his role has not been without challenges.

Deputy President Gachagua has openly questioned Haji’s competency, demanding his resignation.
“Ruto deserves better; he deserves a NIS Director-General who is effective and can analyse situations to keep the government informed,” Gachagua said.

“It is embarrassing that it has taken protests, deaths, mayhem, and destruction for the President to know the truth, yet there is an organisation charged with that role.”