Ruto revealed that he had already prepared some intervention measures to address controversies that shrouded his Cabinet.
President William Ruto on Friday, July 5 denounced calls by a section of Kenyans to conduct a complete overhaul of his Cabinet and send home Cabinet Secretaries (CS) labelled incompetent in their roles.
Speaking during the X Space Conversation hosted jointly with influencer Osama Otero dubbed #EngageThePresident, Ruto clarified that he would explore other alternatives to address matters raised by Kenyans regarding some Cabinet Secretaries.
Ruto revealed that he had already prepared some intervention measures to address controversies that shrouded his Cabinet.
“I will not dissolve Cabinet because I am in the process of looking at things differently,” President Ruto clarified.
President William Ruto and his Cabinet posing for a photo after a meeting on July 4, 2024. /PCS
However, the President warned cabinet secretaries against engaging in corrupt activities, stating that he was ready to fire any CS dragged to court over graft allegations.
“Several staff of the National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) are in court to answer for their involvement in the fertilizer scandal. The day any CS is taken to court, I will fire them,” Ruto stated.
“If there are verified allegations against a minister or any state official and they are taken to court, I will fire them. I will not wait for the court process.”
Ruto’s clarification came amidst growing calls from members of the public to dismiss some of the Cabinet Secretaries on account of alleged non-performance. One of the demands raised by protesters during the recent anti-government protests was a call for the Head of State to crack the whip on some of the government officials.
Among them was Mithika Linturi, who is in charge of the Ministry of Agriculture as of now, who in May survived an impeachment motion filed against him after serious allegations surfaced regarding his involvement in a scandal concerning the distribution of counterfeit fertilisers, which purportedly jeopardised Kenya’s agricultural integrity and food security.
“When there is evidence gathered enough to have the cabinet minister of agriculture to be guilty, I will fire him,” he assured Kenyans in his no-nonsense tolerance of corruption.
Earlier on Friday, Ruto told Kenyans to brace for changes in government that he would announce in due course, amidst media reports of another Cabinet reshuffle that could take a radical fashion and see the hiring and firing of Cabinet Secretaries in a bid to salvage the reputation of the current administration.
During the X Space, the President also revealed that he was unhappy at a section of leaders because of their show of character, disclosing that he has on several occasions called and warned them of their behaviour.
He singled out nominated Senator Karen Nyamu saying he has had to sit her down. This is after a concern was raised by one of the X users on the behaviours displayed by leaders.