On Thursday, December 19, President William Ruto reshuffled his Cabinet, making several key appointments and shifts within his administration. The changes saw the inclusion of former allies of ex-President Uhuru Kenyatta, such as Mutahi Kagwe, Lee Kinyanjui, and William Kabogo, in prominent positions. The reshuffle aims to strengthen the government’s leadership as it continues to implement its policies.
In the announcement made by Head of Public Service Felix Koskei, Mutahi Kagwe was appointed as the new Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture. Former Kiambu Governor William Kabogo was nominated for the role of Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communications, and Digital Economy. Lee Kinyanjui, the former Governor of Nakuru, was appointed as the new Cabinet Secretary for Trade. These appointments, which require parliamentary vetting before formal confirmation, are seen as a strategic move by President Ruto to diversify his Cabinet and bring in experienced leaders.
The reshuffle also saw changes in the leadership of other key ministries. Kipchumba Murkomen, a close ally of the president, was moved from the Sports docket to the influential position of Interior Cabinet Secretary, a role that oversees national security and law enforcement. Salim Mvurya, the former Trade CS, was reassigned to Youth Affairs, Creative Economy, and Sports, a portfolio that replaces Murkomen’s previous role.
Additionally, President Ruto made the decision to drop former Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Dr. Andrew Karanja and ICT Cabinet Secretary Dr. Margaret Nyambura from the Cabinet. However, both were offered new roles as ambassadors, with Dr. Karanja nominated as Kenya’s Ambassador to Brazil and Dr. Nyambura slated to be the ambassador to Ghana. Ababu Namwamba, the former Sports Cabinet Secretary, was appointed as Kenya’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON).
The reshuffle extended beyond the Cabinet, with former Laikipia Governor Ndiritu Muriithi nominated as the chairperson of the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) board and former Senate Deputy Speaker Kembi Gitura appointed as the chairperson of the board of Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral, and Research Hospital. Anthony Mwaura, the outgoing KRA board chair, was reassigned to lead the Kenya Rural Roads Authority.
“These nominations reflect the government’s ongoing commitment to service in its foremost policy organs, the Cabinet, and Foreign Service,” said Felix Koskei, highlighting the administration’s focus on strengthening its leadership across key sectors.
