Ruto under pressure to pick cabinet secretaries

Political and regional factors are at play as President William Ruto prepares to fill the two vacant cabinet positions. [[PCS]

President William Ruto is under pressure to fill the two vacant Cabinet slots for Interior and Gender, with some suggesting that the Mt Kenya and South Rift regions should be prioritised.

The President is yet to pick a replacement for Kithure Kindiki, who was elevated from the Interior docket to Deputy President. He is also yet to appoint a Gender Cabinet Secretary after the Parliamentary Appointments Committee rejected the nomination of Stella Langat during the vetting process in August.

Ruto is reportedly consulting widely as he seeks to appease the Mt Kenya region following the impeachment of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. Speculation is rife that he is considering nominating former Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe to the Interior docket.

According to a source close to the presidency, Kagwe’s nomination would serve a dual purpose. As a native of Nyeri, like Gachagua, his appointment would seek to reassure Mt Kenya residents that the President had not sidelined them.

“The President is keen to ensure that the people of Mt Kenya do not feel abandoned after Gachagua’s impeachment. That is why he is considering nominating former Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe for the Interior docket, given his experience,” said the source.

Two weeks ago, the Kikuyu Council of Elders held a meeting in Nyeri where they endorsed Kagwe, citing his strong leadership credentials and extensive experience, having served in the Cabinets of presidents Mwai Kibaki and Uhuru Kenyatta.

However, some close allies of the President believe the influential Interior docket should be assigned to an insider, preferably from the Rift Valley region. Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir and Sports Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen are reportedly among the top contenders for the position.

Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo is also said to be under consideration. His two years of experience in the ministry is seen as an advantage, as he is already familiar with its operations and would require minimal transition time.

For the Gender docket, President Ruto is reportedly considering former Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu as part of a strategic move to counter the influence of Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka in the Ukambani region. The President is said to view Ngilu, a seasoned grassroots mobiliser with extensive political experience, as a key ally in the region ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

“The President is considering bringing Charity Ngilu into his Cabinet because of her political experience and mobilisation skills. He believes she would help neutralise Kalonzo Musyoka’s influence in Ukambani,” said the source.

Meanwhile, the ODM Party is reportedly lobbying for an additional Cabinet slot. The party currently holds five positions: John Mbadi (National Treasury), Hassan Joho (Mining), Opiyo Wandayi (Energy), Wycliffe Oparanya (Cooperatives), and Beatrice Askul (East African Affairs).

ODM is said to be pushing to secure a sixth Cabinet post.

Additionally, ODM is expected to gain at least 12 Principal Secretary positions as part of a broader reshuffle targeting individuals allied with former Deputy President Gachagua. These changes are expected to be announced within the next two weeks.