President William Ruto has signaled significant changes within his administration as part of a strategy to advance his broad-based government agenda.
Speaking during a church service in Soweto, Nairobi, the President reiterated his commitment to national unity while hinting at an imminent cabinet reshuffle and principal secretaries overhaul.
“Our quest is to unite all Kenyans. We don’t want to discriminate. We have said no to tribalism and will also abandon coalition talks. That’s why you are seeing we have a broad-based government, and we are steering it while broadening it,” President Ruto stated.
Sources suggest that the reshuffle will see new faces join the cabinet, filling vacancies and replacing key positions. Notably, the Ministry of Gender, Arts, and Culture remains unoccupied following the National Assembly’s rejection of Stella Soi Lang’at’s nomination in August.
Insiders also indicate that allies of the former Deputy President may face exclusion in the anticipated changes.
In addition to cabinet adjustments, the President is reportedly planning a shake-up in the cadre of Principal Secretaries.
The Public Service Commission is expected to advertise some positions to facilitate these changes.
The National Assembly is also bracing for a purge, with committee chairpersons and vice-chairpersons who are deemed disloyal facing possible replacement by trusted allies.
These changes are expected to be finalized before MPs head for recess in December.
In a bid to consolidate support, Ruto has previously reached across the aisle, nominating key opposition figures to cabinet positions, including the finance and energy portfolios.
Analysts suggest these moves are part of a broader strategy to entrench his influence nationwide, particularly in the Mount Kenya region, which formed his core support base in the last election.
