Fear has gripped President William Ruto’s cabinet, which says a reshuffle could take place in the coming weeks.
Insiders aware of what is happening, confide in the Sunday Nationthat some lobbied, seeking to find out from those close to the presidency if they would be affected.
Even though President Ruto has not failed anyone in his cabinet, he has publicly expressed his frustration that some are clueless and do not understand their mandate.
Against the backdrop of two ministerial retreats this year, the President even implored his team to consult him, seek his advice and share with him ideas that will lead to the realization and fulfillment of their campaign promises to Kenyans.
Several sources told the Sunday Nationthat the president wants to see his administration carry out its plans and wants his highest officials to lead from the front.
“There is uncertainty among some CSs and PSs, particularly those who have had difficulties with people within their presidency and are not sure they are in the good books. Some have even been excluded from planned events by the presidency, whether locally or abroad,” said a source within the presidency, aware of these plans.
Another said: “Some CSs are accused of being inaccessible to citizens but also to legislators. These contrarian operations are harming the Kenya Kwanza dream of serving the citizens.
A senior official said: “Some have openly said they are unsure of the boss’s plans. »
Concerns are about the smooth functioning of the government, with the SCs and PSs as the main executors, but there is fear that conflicts between leaders will hamper the work.
“The CS play politics and belittle elected leaders at funerals.
They hold the officers in trust and strive to fulfill the president’s plan,” said Senator Nandi Samson Cherargei, noting that the appointing authority should check itself.
“Some of these CS are thugs. They insult the leaders during the funerals, how do you expect them to respect the people of Mama Mboga and Bodaboada. To be a minister is not to be God.
The outspoken senator narrated that in the Senate, they considered drafting impeachment motions against some CSs and forwarding them to the National Assembly for consideration.
“Some plan a succession policy to the detriment of delivery. They use their records to score political bonga points. The changes are good and they must be held accountable,” he stressed.
In August, Ruto once berated the SCs and PSs, publicly admitting that some have no idea what is happening in their ministries and departments, adding that they barely read the documents available to them.
“I call many SPs and ask them what is going on here and they have no idea and this is your department, this is the job you have; you are not a messenger, you are not a security guard, you are not a photographer, you are not a guard,” he said then.
He continued: “You are a PS or a minister and you have no information, how can you run a ministry, a department or a parastatal company if you have no information? This is the highest level of incompetence.
Accordingly, the President revealed on Friday at the end of the two-day retreat in Nairobi that he had established the office of the Head of Strategy and Execution within his office to ensure the implementation of all promises and decisions.
“We need to follow through on some of the decisions we have taken and our programs and ensure that our manifesto becomes the only guiding instrument of governance that we have,” he insisted.
A mini-reshuffle carried out a little over a month ago kept all the CS and PS, but only moved them to other folders.
In communicating the recent changes, Chief of Staff and Civil Service Chief Felix Koskei said they were consistent with the President’s constitutional mandate to reassign tasks.
Specifically, Koskei referenced Section 152(a) which states: “may reassign a cabinet secretary.” However, the same article also provides that “The President may remove a cabinet secretary and shall remove a cabinet secretary if required to do so by a resolution adopted by the National Assembly.”
“It will be different. Heads must roll. Kenyans are getting impatient and there is no time to lose, the changes will also reorganize the cabinet to put more emphasis on servant leadership,” said a senior Kenya Kwanza official who declined to be named. appointed.
In June, Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot, a close ally of the president, speaking in Ildamat, Kajiado County, where he attended an interfaith church service alongside the president and his deputy Rigathi Gachagua, said no one should be spared if they did not do so. deliver.
“Monitor those to whom you have entrusted tasks. If you see that someone does not have the commitment to fulfill their obligations, replace them and take on board those who are ready to work,” he told the president.
He also assured him that the legislature would not cease from its duty of oversight of the executive to ensure that Kenyans got value for money.
Recently, Cherargei called on the president to fire SCs who disrespect MPs.
He posted on alone, he is in the good company of CS Murkomen who insults, demeans everyone, but Kuria only tweets.
Murkomen is worse, he takes the microphone and intimidates, insults and belittles the people and elected leaders even at funerals!
“The appointing authority must control these crooked cabinet secretaries.”
Cheruiyot also held discussions with Kuria, asking him if he was ready to wage war against Parliament, following his remark before the impeachment proceedings of Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza.
CS Kuria had attacked 13 Kenya Kwanza senators over the matter, listing their names on social media.
Earlier this year, Ruto read a riot act to his cabinet members who he warned against laxity and making irresponsible decisions that would negatively impact the welfare of citizens.
