Kenya, Jan 8 – The government on Saturday refuted claims of a Cabinet reshuffle saying they were false and should be ignored. Government spokesman Alfred Mutua said the President and Prime Minister did not deliberate on the formation of the Cabinet during their consultative meeting on Thursday.
Dr Mutua added that a Cabinet reshuffle was not part of the principals\’ immediate plans.
"During this past week\’s meeting between the President and Prime Minister, there was no discussion whatsoever on the formation of the Cabinet or Permanent Secretaries. The issue of a reshuffle is not foreseen to be in the agenda any time soon," Dr Mutua said.
He also cautioned Kenyans against believing and accepting information about the leaders and government\’s plans from third parties.
"The President, Prime Minister and the Government have established clear channels of communicating. Therefore, Kenyans should disregard and shun people who claim to know what the President or Prime Minister are thinking," he said.
"People who are not party to meetings between the President and Prime Minister should also not be believed because the information they provide is false and may be part of an agenda that is contrary to that of the leadership of this country."
Rumours about a Cabinet reshuffle have been rife in the country since International Criminal Court Prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo revealed six names of persons accused of masterminding the post election violence (PEV).
The rumours started when Deputy Prime Minister and minister for Finance Uhuru Kenyatta, Head of Civil Service Francis Muthaura and Industrialisation Minister Henry Kosgey (before his resignation) were listed among the six.
The President sent a statement to newsrooms (on the same day the names were announced) saying he would not suspend any of the top government officials mentioned as it would be prejudicial.
About three weeks later, Attorney General Amos Wako ordered the Kenya Anti Corruption Commission to arrest and prosecute Mr Kosgey over graft charges. The following day (on Tuesday this week) he resigned and was arraigned in court with 12 counts of abuse of office levelled against him.
The President and Prime Minister both accepted his resignation but have not yet replaced him.
On August 16, the President reshuffled the Cabinet in a move that saw five ministers moved around. In October 19, former Higher Education minister William Ruto (who is also in Ocampo\’s list) was suspended over a Sh96 million fraud case. He was replaced by East African Community Minister Hellen Sambili in acting capacity.
Still in October, former Foreign Affairs Minister Moses Wetangula was replaced in acting capacity by Internal Security minister George Saitoti. Mr Wetangula resigned after a Sh1.1 billion scandal rocked his ministry.
Former Police Commissioner Mohammed Hussein Ali and Kass FM radio presenter Joshua arap Sang were also listed among the six PEV suspects.
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