Ruto Hands Mudavadi, Duale, Mvurya New Roles In Cabinet Changes

Chief of Staff Felix Koskei revealed that the changes were necessary to keep the executive running after a Cabinet reshuffle effected by the Head of State

Ruto Hands Mudavadi, Duale, Mvurya New Roles In Cabinet Changes
President William Ruto and other Cabinet members during a Cabinet meeting at State House Nairobi on Tuesday, December 17, 2024. /PCS

President William Ruto has handed three of his current Cabinet Secretaries (CS) new positions, posting them to more dockets.

On Saturday, December 28, Prime CS Musalia Mudavadi, who doubles as Foreign CS, was handed the Information, Communication, and Digital Economy. Aden Duale, in charge of the Environment, will handle the Agriculture Ministry.

Salim Mvurya, who was transferred to the Sports docket, will also handle the Trade Ministry as the Cabinet reorganises itself.

Explaining the changes, Chief of Staff Felix Koskei revealed that the changes were necessary to keep the executive running after a Cabinet reshuffle effected by the Head of State before Christmas.

A collage of Cabinet Secretaries Musalia Mudavadi, Aden Duale and Salim Mvurya. /MUSALIA MUDAVADI.PARLIAMENT KENYA.PCS

"Following the changes effected within Cabinet on December 19, 2024, and as the Cabinet Secretary nominees undergo the requisite parliamentary approval process, His Excellency the President has assigned acting Cabinet Secretaries to the vacant ministerial portfolios,"  read the notice in part.

"In that regard, it is notified that the Head of State and Government has pursuant to Article 152(5)(a) of the Constitution, assigned the vacant ministerial portfolios to the following Cabinet Secretaries in an acting capacity," the notice added.

This reshuffle comes after the Head of State nominated Margaret Nyambura Ndung'u and Andrew Karanja to diplomatic positions. Nyambura was nominated as High Commissioner to Ghana while Karanja was nominated as Ambassador of Kenya to Brazil.

The two were serving as Cabinet Secretaries for ICT and Agriculture respectively, with their positions since taken by William Kabogo and Mutahi Kagwe, pending vetting by the National Assembly and approval.

Meanwhile, the new nominees; Kagwe, Lee Kinyanjui(Trade), and Kabogo are set to face the National Assembly Committee on Appointments for approval hearings on January 14, 2025. 

Per the schedule, Kagwe will appear before the Committee on Appointments, chaired by National Assembly Speaker Rt. Hon. (Dr.) Moses Wetang’ula, as the first nominee on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, at noon. He will be followed by Kabogo, who will take the stand at 3:00 p.m. and Kinyanjui at 5:00 p.m.

The three, who are leaders allied to former President Uhuru Kenyatta are believed to be the results of a meeting between Uhuru and his predecessor Ruto, dubbed the 'Ichaweri Summit'. Political observers pointed to the meeting as Ruto co-opted Uhuru into his administration to form a 'super broad-based government'.   

This was after the inclusion of leaders allied to Raila Odinga in the aftermath of the July-August Gen Z protests that triggered the formation of a broad-based government. Ruto defended the move to nominate Uhuru's allies terming it as a great step towards fostering unity amongst Kenyans.

President William Ruto and Uhuru Kenyatta on December 9, 2024. /UHURU KENYATTA