President William Ruto has unveiled a new cabinet lineup, leaving 12 former ministers in limbo as they compete for the two remaining positions in what he terms a “broad-based” government. This move comes in the wake of widespread protests over high taxes and poor governance, which led to the dismissal of the entire cabinet.
The restructuring has seen a mix of new faces and reassigned veterans, with half of the previous cabinet members returning to different roles. This development has raised eyebrows among political analysts, who question the extent of the promised change.
Among the notable casualties are Njuguna Ndung’u, Moses Kuria, Simon Chelugui, Mithika Linturi, Aisha Jumwa, Florence Bore, Ababu Namwamba, Ezekiel Machogu, Eliud Owalo, Susan Nakhumicha, Peninah Malonza, and Zachariah Mwangi Njeru, who now find themselves in a precarious position. Their futures hang in the balance as they hope to secure one of the two remaining positions: the Ministry of East African Community (EAC), the ASALs and Regional Development, or the office of the Attorney General.
The new cabinet sees some surprising appointments, including opposition figures. John Mbadi Ng’ongo, a prominent opposition leader, has been nominated for the crucial position of National Treasury and Economic Planning.
Hassan Ali Joho, another opposition stalwart, has been tapped to head the Ministry of Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs.
The reshuffle comes after weeks of violent protests that resulted in over 50 deaths. The public outcry was triggered by a controversial finance bill proposing tax increases, amid an already high cost of living. Kenyans accused the previous cabinet of incompetence, arrogance, and displays of opulence while the population struggled economically.
President Ruto, speaking to the nation following the dismissal of his previous cabinet, announced that the new government will be streamlined, efficient, and dedicated to tackling critical issues such as debt, job creation, and corruption.
The new lineup includes both seasoned politicians and technocrats. Roselinda Soipan Tuya returns to head the Ministry of Defence, while Aden Barre Duale takes charge of the Environment, Climate Change and Forestry portfolio. New faces such as Stella Soi Lang’at, nominated for the Ministry of Gender, Culture, the Arts and Heritage, bring fresh perspectives to the cabinet.
The reshuffling has also seen some ministers moved to different portfolios. Onesimus Kipchumba Murkomen, previously in charge of Transport, now heads the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports. This move is seen as an attempt to inject new energy into youth-related policies.
The next few weeks will be critical in assessing whether this reshuffle will successfully tackle the issues that sparked the protests, as Kenyans remain disillusioned with the president’s ongoing actions. With a blend of familiar and fresh faces, President Ruto’s “broad-based” cabinet faces the daunting challenge of navigating Kenya through its economic and social hurdles while working to rebuild public trust in governance.
