Raila’s massive harvest in Ruto’s PSs reshuffle

By Wanderi Kamau

President William Ruto has announced a significant shake-up in his administration, nominating 14 new Principal Secretaries (PSs), reassigning six, and demoting several others.

However, no PS was dismissed outright in the latest changes.

Read more: How Raila controls Ruto’s 2027 presidential bid

Rather than making direct dismissals, the President expanded his government by creating five new State Departments, increasing the total to 56. Some of the PSs who were dropped from their positions have been reassigned to new roles, including ambassadorial postings and advisory positions. Critics argue that this move signals a return to a bloated government, further straining an already burdened taxpayer base.

New State Departments and political implications

The newly established departments include:

• The State Department for Public Investments and Assets Management under the National Treasury and Economic Planning
• The State Department for National Coordination in the Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary
• The State Department for Justice, Human Rights, and Constitutional Affairs within the Office of the Attorney General
• The State Department for Science, Research, and Innovation under the Ministry of Education

The reshuffle has also seen more allies of Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga integrated into the Kenya Kwanza government. Notably, Prof Edward Kisiangani, who served as Principal Secretary for Broadcasting and Telecommunications, was among those removed.

He has now been appointed as a Senior Advisor and a member of the President’s Council of Economic Advisers—an appointment many perceive as a demotion.

One of the more surprising appointments is that of former Nyeri Deputy Governor and ex-Azimio la Umoja Deputy Chief Agent Caroline Karugu, who has been nominated as PS for East African Community (EAC) Affairs.

Meanwhile, ODM stalwart Judith Pareno has been nominated as the PS for Justice, Human Rights, and Constitutional Affairs. Pareno previously served as a nominated senator and a member of the ODM National Elections Board.

Read more: Ruto, Raila sign a 10-point ‘historic’ MoU

Another notable appointment is that of Dr. Fredrick Ouma Oluga, a former unionist who led a historic doctors’ strike during President Uhuru Kenyatta’s tenure, even serving jail time for his activism.

Dr. Oluga has now been nominated as the PS for Medical Services.

Complete list of PS nominees

The other newly nominated PSs are:

• Dr. Jane Imbunya – Public Service and Human Capital Development
• Regina Ombam – Trade
• Cyrell Odede – Public Investments and Assets Management
• Ahmed Abdisalan Ibrahim – National Government Coordination (Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary)
• Dr. Boniface Makokha – Economic Planning
• Prof. Abdulrazak Shaukat – Science, Research, and Innovation
• Stephen Isaboke – Broadcasting and Telecommunications
• Michael Lenasalon – Devolution
• Fikirini Kahindi – Youth Affairs
• Carren Achieng – Children Welfare Services
• Aden Millah – Shipping and Maritime

Several of the nominees have strong ties to ODM, including Fikirini Kahindi, an ODM Youth leader in Kilifi County, and Ahmed Abdisalan Ibrahim, the party’s National Organizing Secretary.

Reassignments and promotions

In addition to new nominations, some PSs have been swapped, promoted, or moved to different roles:

• Belio Kipsang (formerly PS for Basic Education) and Julius Bitok (PS for Immigration and Citizen Services) have switched positions.
• Amos Gathecha has been promoted from PS Public Service and Human Capital Development to Deputy Head of Public Service.
• Harry Kimtai, previously in charge of Medical Services, has been reassigned as PS for Mining.
• Ismael Madey has been transferred from Youth Affairs and Creative Economy to become the PS for Special Programs.
• Teresiah Mbaika, formerly the PS for Devolution, has been moved to head the State Department for Aviation and Aerospace Development.

Demotions and diplomatic postings

Some officials were reassigned to diplomatic positions, widely viewed as demotions:

• Alfred K’Ombudo, previously the PS for Trade, has been nominated as Deputy Head of Mission in Brussels, Belgium.
• Peter Tum, who was the PS for Sports, has been reassigned as Kenya’s Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Congo.
• Geoffrey Kaituko, who was in charge of Shipping and Maritime Affairs, has been appointed as Head of Mission to Rome, Italy.
• James Muhati, the outgoing Economic Planning PS, will now serve as Consul-General in China.
• Abdi Dubat Fidhow, the EAC PS, has been posted as Consul-General in Arusha, Tanzania.
• Former Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha has been appointed as Kenya’s Permanent Representative to the UN-Habitat in Nairobi.

Political calculations behind the reshuffle

Despite widespread speculation that President Ruto would also make changes at the Cabinet level, no Cabinet Secretaries were affected. Observers believe this decision was influenced by Ruto’s upcoming tour of the Mt Kenya region—a stronghold that overwhelmingly supported him in the 2022 elections but has since grown increasingly discontented.

Tensions have been particularly high since the impeachment of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua in October last year. Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi, once a staunch government supporter, has also grown critical in recent months, particularly regarding allegations of state-sponsored abductions, enforced disappearances, and extrajudicial killings. Had Ruto removed Muturi ahead of his Mt Kenya visit, analysts suggest it could have further alienated the region.

Read more: Raila Odinga: A political saviour or a scheming opportunist?

Mt Kenya MPs allied with Gachagua have also been targeted in recent political purges. Those recently ousted from influential parliamentary positions include:

• Wanjiku Muhia (Kipipiri MP) – removed as Chairperson of the Regional Integration Committee
• Gathoni Wamuchomba (Githunguri MP) – removed as Chair of the Constitutional Implementation Oversight Committee
• James Gakuya (Embakasi North MP) – ousted as Chair of the Trade, Industry, and Cooperatives Committee
• Ndindi Nyoro (Kiharu MP) – removed as Chair of the Budget and Appropriations Committee

Gachagua has publicly challenged Ruto to explain his government’s targeting of Mt Kenya leaders, warning that the political landscape is shifting.

Government justification for the changes

State House defended the restructuring, stating that the changes align with Ruto’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).

“These changes are driven by the need to harness opportunities in emerging sectors of the economy and address challenges affecting Kenya’s social fabric,” said Head of Public Service Felix Koskei in a statement. “Collectively, the changes aim to accelerate the implementation of the administration’s socio-economic blueprint—BETA.”

More ODM allies in government

This latest round of appointments adds to the list of Raila Odinga allies who have been integrated into Ruto’s administration. Following the nationwide protests against the government in June 2024, the President brought in several ODM leaders as Cabinet Secretaries, including:

• Opiyo Wandayi (Energy and Petroleum)
• John Mbadi (National Treasury and Economic Planning)
• Ali Hassan Joho (Mining and Blue Economy)
• Wycliffe Oparanya (Cooperatives and MSMEs)
• Beatrice Askul (EAC and Arid and Semi-Arid Regions)

On Thursday, Raila Odinga met with the five CSs in Nairobi, signaling his growing influence in the Kenya Kwanza government.

With Ruto’s Mt Kenya tour looming, his reshuffle is widely seen as a strategic attempt to bolster his administration while managing growing dissent in a region that was once his stronghold. Whether these changes will be enough to win back public confidence remains to be seen.