Kenya President Ruto Shuffles Cabinet, Nation’s Foreign Service and other Senior Ranks

President William Ruto on Thursday, December 19 nominated former President Uhuru Kenyatta allies Mutahi Kagwe and Lee Kinyanjui, as well as former Kiambu governor William Kabogo, to the Cabinet in a reshuffle that has seen two CSs dropped from their lucrative roles.

The other big news in the reshuffle is that Sports CS Kipchumba Murkomen, a trusted insider in the President’s corner, has been named to the powerful position of Interior Cabinet Secretary.

Mr Murkomen takes the powerful role left vacant after the ascension of Prof Kithure Kindiki to the role of Deputy President following the impeachment of Rigathi Gachagua in October. 

Mr Kagwe has been nominated as Cabinet Secretary to the ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, Mr Kinyanjui to the ministry of Investments Trade and Industry, while Mr Kabogo has been nominated to the ministry of Information, Communications and The Digital Economy.

Mr Kagwe, Mr Kinyanjui and Mr Kabogo will now have to face Parliament before their formal appointments. 

At the same time, Mr Salim Mvurya, currently the Trade CS, has been moved to that of Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports to replace Mr Murkomen. 

CSs Karanja and Ndung’u fired from Cabinet 

Former Agriculture CS Dr Andrew Karanja and his ICT counterpart Dr Margaret Nyambura Ndung’u have been dropped from Cabinet, but given a soft landing, with nominations to the role of ambassadors. 

Dr Karanja has been nominated to take over the role of Kenyan ambassador to Brazil while Dr Ndung’u will take up the role of Kenyan ambassador to Ghana, if approved by Parliament.

Former Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba has been nominated to the role of Permanent Representative of Kenya to the United Nations Environment    Programme (UNEP)/United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON). 

At the same time, Amb Gertrude Angote has been nominated as Kenyan High Commissioner, Zimbabwe.

More Uhuru allies

In the changes following a meeting between Dr Ruto and his predecessor Mr Kenyatta, other allies of the former president who made it to government are former Laikipia governor Ndiritu Muriithi and former Senate Deputy Speaker Kembi Gitura.

Mr Muriithi has been appointed as the Kenya Revenue Authority board chairperson while Mr Gitura will chair that of Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital.

Mr Anthony Mwaura, who currently chairs the KRA board, has been moved to that of the Kenya Rural Roads Authority. 

“His Excellency The President has today made nominations, re- assignments and appointments to the senior ranks of the Executive. The nominations effected are in regard to individuals to serve the Nation in its foremost policy organ — Cabinet — as well as in the Foreign Service,” an announcement by Head of Public Service and Chief of Staff, Mr Felix Koskei, said. 

By Nation.Africa