NAIROBI, Kenya July 19 – President William Ruto on Friday dismissed 15 Cabinet Secretaries, announced 10 Cabinet members, and introduced a new candidate for the Attorney General position.
The 15 were excluded from the first batch of new Cabinet members, and it seems unlikely they will return.
The remaining seats might be allocated to opposition members, as President Ruto aims to create a broader, more inclusive government, potentially a government of national unity.
“Further consultations are ongoing after which I will announce more names in due course,” President Ruto said in a televised national address.
The law allows the President to nominate up to 22 ministers, with a minimum of 14.
Given the reduced government resources after the withdrawal of the Finance Bill 2024, there’s speculation that the new Cabinet could feature at least 15 members.
The re-organization of the Cabinet followed President Ruto’s July 11, 2024, decision to dissolve the previous Cabinet in response to anti-government protests and Gen Z demands for accountability and improved governance.
Former Cabinet Secretaries Kipchumba Murkomen, who managed the Roads docket, and Moses Kuria, who oversaw Performance and Service Delivery, were among the outspoken members dismissed by President Ruto.
The two former political leaders played key roles in campaigning for President Ruto, and their Cabinet appointments were seen as a reward for their support.
Before their Cabinet appointments, Murkomen was the Elgeyo Marakwet Senator, and Kuria was the Gatundu South Member of the National Assembly.
List of the other fired Cabinet Secretaries
- Prof. Njuguna Ndung’u: National Treasury and Planning
- Aisha Jumwa: Gender, Culture, the Arts & Heritage
- Alfred Mutua, EGH: Tourism & Wildlife
- Zachariah Mwangi Njeru: Water, Sanitation & Irrigation
- Peninah Malonza, OGW: East African Community, The ASALs & Regional Development
- Mithika Linturi: Agriculture and Livestock Development
- Ezekiel Machogu: Education
- Ababu Namwamba: Youth Affairs and Sports
- Simon Chelugui: Co-operatives and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Development
- Salim Mvurya: Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs
- Florence Bore: Labour and Social Protection
- Eliud Owalo: Information, Communications and the Digital Economy
- Susan Nakhumicha Wafula: Health
Only six of the former Cabinet Secretaries have been retained to the new team.
The retained Cabinet Secretaries include Kithure Kindiki for Interior and National Administration, Alice Wahome for Lands and Housing, Aden Duale for Defence, and Soipan Tuya for Environment and Forestry.
Former Energy Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir has been reassigned to the Roads and Transport docket, while former Trade and Industry Secretary Rebecca Miano will take on the role of Attorney General.
The re-organization of the Cabinet, President Ruto said was anchored on “forming a new, broad-based” team that will help him in driving “transformation in the country.”
