Anxiety is sweeping across the government as President William Ruto hints at a significant reorganization of his administration.
Senior officials are reportedly on edge following the President’s recent remarks indicating that his Cabinet and top advisors “could have done better” in light of the Finance Bill 2024, which has sparked widespread protests.
In a televised interview on Sunday night, President Ruto stated, “The Cabinet I have maybe could have done better, and I am going to do soul searching on how we are going to move forward.”
His comments, coupled with a cryptic suggestion to “watch this space,” have been widely interpreted as foreshadowing a potential purge of senior officials.
In the days following Ruto’s announcement, shockwaves have reverberated through the government.
Cabinet Secretaries (CSs) and Principal Secretaries (PSs) are reportedly in a state of panic, bracing for what many believe will be a sweeping overhaul designed to stabilize the administration.
One unnamed Cabinet Secretary confided to The Star, “The truth is that the President is planning something, but even for us, we are not sure about the magnitude of the changes, but certainly they are coming.”
President Ruto has spent the past week in a series of closed-door meetings with his closest allies.
Those traditionally considered part of his inner circle have been left in the dark about the specifics of these discussions.
Key figures such as Defence Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, National Intelligence Service boss Noordin Haji, and Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo have been frequenting State House, yet the details of Ruto’s strategy remain elusive.
On Monday, Ruto convened a critical meeting with several CSs and PSs at State House, emphasizing the urgency of addressing the current crisis and outlining his plans to “clean the government” in response to public outcry.
The impending purge is expected to extend to presidential advisors, some of whom have faced public criticism for their perceived aloofness during these challenging times.
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who has recently been at odds with Ruto, has notably been absent from these high-level consultations.
Instead, Gachagua has been touring various parts of the country, where he remarked that the President is actively consulting with various stakeholders, including church leaders, to mend societal rifts and unite the nation.
“The President has listened to the young people and Kenyans in general and has opened the door for consultations.
He has already met the church leaders in the ongoing process to heal the rifts and unite the people,” Gachagua stated on Sunday while attending a church service in Bomet County.
President Ruto’s latest maneuver has left many of his senior government officials unsettled, particularly as it follows reports of internal sympathies towards the ongoing protests.
With mounting pressure to restore public confidence and quell the unrest, Ruto’s anticipated cabinet reshuffle is seen as a critical move to regain control and navigate his administration through turbulent times.
Add Comment