Before this, the Head of State announced that operations of the government would continue uninterrupted under the guidance of Principal Secretaries and other relevant officials.
President William Ruto on Wednesday, July 17 assigned Prime Cabinet Secretary (CS) Musalia Mudavadi the responsibility of the acting Cabinet Secretary in all 21 ministries.
Before this, the Head of State announced that operations of the government would continue uninterrupted under the guidance of Principal Secretaries and other relevant officials.
This is after his bombshell announcement that he had disbanded his entire Cabinet, a move that saw 21 Cabinet Secretaries (CSs) who served across various ministries in the Kenyan government rendered jobless.
Mudavadi, who doubles up as the Foreign Affairs CS, was the only member of Ruto’s Cabinet allowed to keep his job. Now, he will be tasked with assuming the responsibility of running the helm of the dockets rendered vacant by the President.
President William Ruto and his Cabinet posing for a photo after a meeting on July 4, 2024. /PCS
“That pursuant to Article 152 (5) (a) of the Constitution, Wycliffe Musalia Mudavadi, E.G.H., is assigned as the Acting Cabinet Secretary in all vacant ministerial portfolios,” a gazette notice dated July 12 read.
The firing of Justin Muturi as Attorney General was also gazetted. Ruto said he had resolved to dissolve his Cabinet “upon reflection, listening keenly to what the people of Kenya have said and after a holistic appraisal of the performance of the cabinet and its achievements and challenges.”
“Upon reflection, listening keenly to what the people of Kenya have said and after a holistic appraisal of the performance of my Cabinet and its achievements and challenges, I have, in line with the powers given to me by Article 152(1) and 152(5)(b) of the Constitution and Section 12 of the Office of the Attorney-General Act, decided to dismiss with immediate effect all the Cabinet Secretaries and the Attorney-General from the Cabinet of the Republic of Kenya except the Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs,” he announced.
The decision, a first-ever in the 2010 Constitution of Kenya, saw big names, some of which attracted controversy in one way or another, shown the door less than two years after being appointed.
Here are the Cabinet Secretaries who were dismissed by the President:
- Rebecca Miano – Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry.
- Kithure Kindiki – Interior and National Administration
- Alice Wahome – Ministry of Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Developments
- Susan Nakhumicha – Ministry of Health
- Peninah Malonza – Ministry of East African Community, The ASALs and Regional Developments.
- Alfred Mutua – Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife
- Moses Kuria – Ministry of Public Service Performance, and Delivery Management.
- Aisha Jumwa – Ministry of Gender, Culture, the Arts and Heritage
- Njuguna Ndung’u – National Treasury and Planning
- Aden Duale – Defence
- Rebecca Miano – Investments, Trade & Industry
- Onesmus Kipchumba Murkomen – Roads and Transport
- Rosalinda Soipan Tuya – Environment and Forestry
- Zachariah Mwangi Njeru – Water, Sanitation & Irrigation
- Mithika Linturi – Agriculture and Livestock Development
- Ezekiel Machogu – Education
- Salim Mvurya – Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs
- Eliud Owalo – Information, Communications and the Digital Economy
- Simon Chelugui – Co-operatives and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Development
- Ababu Namwamba – Youth Affairs and Sports
- Florence Bore: Labour and Social Protection.
How the cabinet is appointed
The President names his nominees for the cabinet whose names are communicated to the house by the National Assembly.
The House Business Committee is charged with the responsibility of nominating members to sit in the Appointment Committee which vets the cabinet nominees.
The parliamentary approval process mandates the committee to assess a candidate’s academic qualifications, professional training, experience, personal integrity, and background.
Subsequently, the committee endeavours to correlate the candidate’s experience with the relevant Ministry’s scope of responsibilities.
A collage of former Cabinet Secretaries (except Musalia Mudavadi) in President William Ruto’s Cabinet. /CAPITAL GROUP
After vetting the committee tables a report of every cabinet nominee recommending either for the house to approve or reject.
Upon appointment, each Cabinet Secretary takes office after swearing or affirming allegiance to the people and the Republic of Kenya, pledging obedience to the Constitution as outlined in the Third Schedule.