National Assembly Deputy Minority Leader Robert Mbui has openly criticized President William Ruto’s recent Cabinet nominations, describing the move as a sign of confusion within the government.
Speaking on Citizen TV’s Daybreak show, the Kathiani Member of Parliament expressed concerns over the President’s decision to return several individuals from his former Cabinet, which had previously been dismissed.
According to Mbui, President Ruto’s nomination of 11 individuals as the first batch of new Cabinet Secretaries should have incorporated public input. “The president has the option of reshuffling and could have also dismissed part of the Cabinet,” said Mbui. “But he made the decision himself that he had dismissed everybody, so basically when he returns people to the same dockets it shows there is serious confusion in that regard.”
Mbui emphasized that such actions do not inspire confidence among Kenyans regarding Ruto’s ability to manage state affairs effectively. He argued that the President missed an opportunity to engage the public and consider their input in forming a more competent and trusted team.
The legislator further argued that Ruto should have welcomed applications from interested members of the public, allowing for a merit-based selection process. “The president had the opportunity to bring in professionals. The Gen Z have said do not appoint friends and supporters, invest in professionals,” Mbui stated. He suggested that a transparent process involving the public could have resulted in a Cabinet comprising individuals selected for their expertise and ability to lead.
In a press address at State House, President Ruto defended the reappointments, stating that the decision followed extensive consultations across the political divide. According to Ruto, the nominations were part of an effort to restore stability and address the concerns raised by the recent protests. The President emphasized that the reappointment of some former CSs was intended to bring experienced leadership back into key positions.
However, the nominations list has sparked controversy, as it includes six former Cabinet Secretaries who were previously dismissed, among them Prof. Kithure Kindiki (Interior), Aden Duale (Defence), Alice Wahome (Lands), and Soipan Tuya (Forestry) retained their former positions. Notably, former Trace Cabinet Secretary has been nominated as Attorney General, and former Energy Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir has been appointed to the Roads and Transport docket.
