At least two CSs face the sack in Ruto's looming Cabinet shuffle

President William Ruto is expected to reshuffle the Cabinet in efforts to boost delivery of the Kenya Kwanza agenda. [File, Standard]

At least two Cabinet Secretaries could face the axe as President William Ruto seeks to assemble a team to drive his 2027 re-election bid.

The Standard has reliably learnt that the President is concerned that some of his CSs are not performing as expected, with anxiety mounting in the government over the looming shake-up.

Insiders say Dr Ruto wants to have people who can effectively communicate his government’s successes. Equally important, the Head of State is keen to establish a team of mobilisers capable of rallying masses to his corner in the next polls.

On Tuesday, the President chaired a Cabinet meeting at State House and posed for an official photo with his ministers. According to insiders, the shake-up could happen any time now. But some sources intimated that it could happen early next year.

A highly-placed source observed that the State House group photo, taken during the last Cabinet meeting of the year, could serve for record purposes if the transition happens as expected. Before he sacked CSs in July, Ruto held a meeting and thereafter posed for an official photo.

“The President is very keen to ensure he tames incompetence in his government and the changes should come very soon. He could start 2025 on a new slate,” said a source.

Another source also pointed to Tuesday as the last meeting of Ruto’s Cabinet as currently constituted. CSs have taken a holiday break until January 5, a period that promises anxiety for those on the chopping board.

As he witnessed the signing of performance contracts, Ruto warned officials of sanctions for poor performance.

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“Excellence, integrity, efficiency and consistency will be rewarded while failure, negligence, waste and misconduct will prompt corrective action,” the President said last month.

Parliament is currently on recess until next February and could be forced to cut short its break to vet and approve new Cabinet nominees. Lobbying is on high gear as several persons seek to be appointed into crucial dockets.

Former CSs could also make a comeback in Ruto’s new Cabinet, which will also feature allies of former President Uhuru Kenyatta, with those relived of their duties reassigned to other roles, including ambassadorial ones.

The likely new entrants include former Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe, with sources saying he could return to his old docket, largely informed by his performance at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“The President is looking for someone who can effectively communicate progress in the health sector, and Kagwe fits the bill,” said a source.

Kagwe, an ally of Uhuru, has experience in politics and is expected to play a role in taming former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s growing influence in the Mount Kenya region.

Ruto is banking on an alliance with Uhuru as the most feasible way to win back the region, with insiders confident that the former President’s younger brother Muhoho Kenyatta could join Cabinet.

“Muhoho is expected to play a prominent role in the 2027 political matrix, but should he not take up a role, then Kristina Pratt (Uhuru’s sister) could,” said the source.

Former ICT CS Eliud Owalo could also make a comeback, according to sources, with CS Davis Chirchir said to be among names being considered for the Interior docket, which has been without a substantive holder since Kithure Kindiki’s elevation to the deputy presidency.

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has headed the ministry in an acting capacity. Some sources intimate that he is also being considerered for the role.

Owalo, a Ruto ally and strategist, is currently in charge of overseeing government delivery and supervised the validation and signing of performance contracts by Cabinet and Principal Secretaries.

Also mentioned as possible contenders for the sensitive security docket is Environment CS Aden Duale, who previously served as Defence CS. Duale, the former Garissa Township MP, was among those plucked from Parliament to the Executive.

Former Interior Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho has also featured as a possible fix to head the Interior docket if Chirchir is retained in the Transport Ministry. Kibicho, a Uhuru ally, often clashed with Ruto during the Jubilee government’s second term in office.

Belgut MP Nelson Koech, who heads the National Assembly Defence and Foreign Relations committee, is also said to be under consideration for a Cabinet role. But other sources say the President is unlikely to hire another MP as CS.

Ruto is also expected to fill the vacant Gender CS role, also headed in acting capacity by Mudavadi. In August, Members of Parliament rejected Stella Soi’s nomination to the position.

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s allies in Cabinet, John Mbadi (National Treasury), Opiyo Wandayi (Energy), Hassan Joho (Mining), Wycliffe Oparanya (Cooperatives) and Beatrice Askul (East African Community), will be retained as Ruto explores a coalition with the former premier and Uhuru.

“Those who came in through Raila’s rapprochement with Ruto will be retained as part of the President’s equation for 2027,” said a government insider of a coalition that could see Ruto, Raila and Uhuru team up in the next elections.

Political risk analyst Dismas Mokua said the moment offers Ruto an opportunity to “attract and retain top talent” into his Cabinet.

“While political persuasion and alignments are key considerations, capacity and competence to deliver must top the consideration matrix. President Ruto has a five-year contract with Kenyans and they will review his report card. He therefore needs a team that will assist him deliver on his contract. Kenyans will register offence if he does not deliver on his mandate,” said Mokua.