President William Ruto has initiated a sweeping reorganization of his government, targeting Cabinet Secretaries, Principal Secretaries, and the Diplomatic Service in a move designed to integrate allies of ODM leader Raila Odinga while sidelining those loyal to impeached Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
On Wednesday, the Public Service Commission (PSC) invited applications for Principal Secretary positions, with a submission deadline of December 4. This comes amid speculation about significant Cabinet changes ahead of Ruto’s State of the Nation Address to a special sitting of Parliament tomorrow (Thursday).
The reshuffle will address critical vacancies, including the Interior and National Government Administration docket left open after Prof. Kithure Kindiki’s elevation to Deputy President. Another high-profile vacancy is the Gender, Culture, Arts, and Heritage portfolio, which has been without a leader since Parliament rejected nominee Stella Lang’at in August for failing to demonstrate competence in the role.
Five ODM heavyweights have already been inducted into a broad-based Cabinet formed in response to the Gen Z protests earlier this year. These include: Hassan Joho (Mining, Blue Economy, and Maritime Affairs), John Mbadi (National Treasury and Economic Planning), Opiyo Wandayi (Energy and Petroleum), Wycliffe Oparanya (Co-operatives and MSME Development) and Beatrice Askul (EAC Affairs and Regional Development Authorities)
Sources suggest Raila is poised to secure five additional Cabinet portfolios, along with Principal Secretary and ambassadorial appointments.
President Ruto has already appointed his sister, Dr. Wenwa Akinyi Oranga, as chairperson of the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute board. Insiders indicate that more appointments favouring Ruto’s inner circle and Raila’s allies are in the pipeline.
The shakeup extends to parliamentary committees, where plans to remove Gachagua’s allies are underway. ODM MPs are expected to benefit from these realignments. Additionally, there are rumours that Ruto may sacrifice National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula to further strengthen ODM’s influence.
Parliament is set to break for its long recess on December 6, but a special session may be convened if ongoing negotiations delay the changes. This high-stakes realignment marks a pivotal moment in Kenya’s political landscape, with Ruto re-calibrating his administration to consolidate power while fostering a delicate alliance with Raila Odinga.
