President William Ruto has reorganised the Permanent Secretary (PS) ranks, with a key highlight being the transfer of Education PS Dr Belio Kipsang to the State Department of Immigration and Citizen Services. He has been replaced by Professor Julius Bitok, who previously served as PS for Sports.
The reshuffle has also seen allies of ODM leader Raila Odinga appointed to the executive, continuing the broad-based government approach initiated last year following the Gen Z protests. Among the notable appointees are former Nyeri Deputy Governor Dr Caroline Karugu and former Nominated Senator Judith Pareno.
Dr Karugu was actively involved in Raila’s 2022 presidential campaign and his recent bid for the African Union Commission chairmanship, she has been nominated as the PS for East African Community Affairs. Pareno, a former chair of the ODM National Elections Board, has been nominated as PS for Justice, Human Rights, and Constitutional Affairs in the Office of the Attorney General and State Department for Justice.
This latest restructuring follows a political pact between ODM and Ruto’s UDA, in which both parties pledged to uphold national sovereignty by preventing abductions, suppressing the will of the people, and curbing press censorship.
Edward Kisiangani, formerly the PS for Broadcasting and Telecommunications, has been moved to the President’s Council of Economic Affairs as a senior advisor and member. If approved by the National Assembly, he will be replaced by Stephen Isaboke, currently the Head of Regulatory Affairs at Multichoice. Kisiangani’s transfer comes amid scrutiny over allegations that he curtailed media freedoms by restricting government advertising in media outlets critical of the administration.
Recently, he was accused of blocking a Ministry of Water and Irrigation advertising deal with media houses by ordering the exclusion of the Standard Media Group. On Thursday, High Court Judge Lawrence Mwambuye ruled that Kisiangani’s March 2023 directive limiting government advertising to the State-owned Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) was unlawful. Amos Gathecha, previously the PS for Public Service and Human Capital Development, has been promoted to Deputy Head of Public Service. Dr Jane Kere Imbuya, a lecturer at Kaimosi University College, has been nominated to replace him.
Henry Kimtai has been moved from Medical Services to Mining. His tenure at Medical Services was marred by controversy over the crisis at the Social Health Authority, where system failures crippled the Social Health Insurance Fund. The fund’s inability to clear bills owed to private hospitals led to the denial of services to police officers, teachers, and prison staff. Many private hospitals are now demanding cash payments, and on Thursday, Kimtai warned that facilities refusing to cooperate risk having their licences revoked. He has been replaced by former Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union (KMPDU) Secretary-General Dr Ouma Oluga. Teresia Mbaika has been moved from Devolution to the newly created State Department for Aviation and Aerospace Development under the Ministry of Roads and Transport.
Other newly appointed PSs include:
- Regina Akoth Ombam (Trade)
- Cyrell Wagunda Odede (Public Investment and Asset Management)
- Ahmed Abdisalan Ibrahim (National Government Coordination)
- Bonface Makokha (Economic Planning)
- Professor Abdulrazak Shaukat (Science, Research and Innovation)
- Michael Lenasalon (Devolution)
- Fikirini Katoi Kajindi (Youth Affairs)
- Carren Ageng’o Achieng (Children Welfare Services)
- Ishmael Maday moved from Youth Affairs to Special Programmes
- Aden Abdi Millah (Shipping and Maritime Affairs)
Former Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha has been nominated as Kenya’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Habitat in Nairobi. Peter Tum, the outgoing PS for Sports, has been nominated as Kenya’s Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), while Trade PS Alfred K’Ombundo has been nominated as Deputy Head of Mission in Belgium, subject to parliamentary approval.
James Buyekane Muhati and Abdi Dubat Fidhow have been nominated as Consul-Generals in Guangzhou, China, and Arusha, Tanzania, respectively. In a statement, State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohammed said the reshuffle was aimed at capitalising on opportunities in emerging economic sectors.
“Collectively, the changes seek to further accelerate the implementation of the administration’s Seminal Socio-Economic Blueprint and the Bottom-Up Transformation Agenda,” he said.
