If confirmed by the National Assembly, Kabogo’s return to power is widely seen as President Ruto’s attempt to reduce the influence of his former Deputy, Rigathi Gachagua, in the Mt. Kenya region. Kabogo, a prominent figure from the populous Kiambu County, which had 1,275,008 voters in the 2022 election second only to Nairobi is regarded as a key player in the region’s political future. His county played a decisive role in Ruto’s victory over Raila Odinga, the Azimio candidate, in the 2022 elections
The nomination of former Kiambu Governor William Kabogo as Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communication, and Digital Economy on Thursday is being hailed as one of President William Ruto’s most calculated political manoeuvres in his recent reshuffle.
While former Health CS Mutahi Kagwe and former Nakuru Governor Lee Kinyanjui, also nominated for the Cabinet Secretary roles in Agriculture and Livestock Development and Investments, Trade, and Industry respectively, benefit from the reconciliation between President Ruto and former President Uhuru Kenyatta, Kabogo’s nomination carries deeper political significance.
If confirmed by the National Assembly, Kabogo’s return to power is widely seen as President Ruto’s attempt to reduce the influence of his former Deputy, Rigathi Gachagua, in the Mt. Kenya region. Kabogo, a prominent figure from the populous Kiambu County, which had 1,275,008 voters in the 2022 election—second only to Nairobi—is regarded as a key player in the region’s political future. His county played a decisive role in Ruto’s victory over Raila Odinga, the Azimio candidate, in the 2022 elections
More crucially, Kabogo is a strong political force with presidential ambitions. In 2021, he publicly declared his intention to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta, even after initially backing Ruto’s candidacy. During the 2022 election campaign, Kabogo shifted his political alignment, distancing his Sisi Kwa Sisi Party from the Kenya Kwanza Alliance. “Things change, and right now I’m on my own and I’m doing fine,” Kabogo said in a June 2022 interview with Citizen TV.
However, as is typical in Kenyan politics, where alliances are often fluid, recent shifts—including the Gen Z protests—demonstrate that personal and political interests outweigh permanent loyalty. President Ruto seems to have calculated that having a seasoned politician like Kabogo in his camp would serve as a crucial counterbalance to Gachagua, who has been publicly contemplating forming a political party to advocate for Mt. Kenya’s interests, especially following his near-impeachment in October.
Kabogo’s political comeback also positions him as a potential frontrunner for Ruto’s running mate in the next election, providing him with an even more influential role within the Kenya Kwanza Alliance. Additionally, his elevation to the Cabinet ensures that Kiambu County, a major political and economic hub, has a direct voice in national decision-making. This move also underscores Ruto’s strategy of ensuring that key figures from the Mt. Kenya region are included in his administration, despite the behind-the-scenes manoeuvring by figures like Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga.
However, Kabogo’s relationship with other political heavyweights in the Ruto administration will be one to watch. Of particular interest will be his interactions with former Public Service Minister Moses Kuria, who now serves as a senior economic advisor in the presidency. Kuria, a forceful politician in his own right, represents another powerful faction within the Mt. Kenya region, and how he aligns or competes with Kabogo could have implications for Ruto’s political calculations going forward.
Meanwhile, the nomination of Mutahi Kagwe, a former Health Cabinet Secretary from Nyeri, ensures that the region will not be left out of Ruto’s governance despite the ouster of Gachagua. His nomination, alongside Kabogo’s, strengthens Ruto’s political ties with the influential Mt. Kenya region and consolidates his position as the dominant political figure in the area.
As Ruto’s reshuffle unfolds, it’s clear that his political strategy hinges on maintaining control over key regions while managing the power dynamics within his camp, particularly in the face of rising political rivals from Mt. Kenya. Kabogo’s Cabinet nomination could very well mark the beginning of a new phase in Kenya’s political landscape, where alliances and rivalries are reshaped for the battles ahead.
