Mudavadi appointed acting CS in 21 ministries as Ruto gazettes dismissal of staff

President William Ruto on Wednesday appointed Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi as acting Cabinet Secretary in all 21 ministries.

This is after the Head of State on July 11, 2024, sacked all his cabinet secretaries and the Attorney General

In a gazette notice dated July 11, President Ruto said that Mudavadi will take over the role of CS in all the ministries.

"That pursuant to Article 152 (5) (a) of the Constitution, Wycliffe Musalia Mudavadi, E.G.H., is assigned as the Acting Cabinet Secretary in all vacant ministerial portfolios," the gazette notice read.

President Ruto also gazetted the dismissal of the 21 CSs who faced the sack last week.

While sacking his cabinet, only Prime CS, Mudavadi, who also holds the Foreign and Diaspora Affairs docket survived the purge.

Ruto said he had resolved to dissolve his Cabinet "upon reflection, listening keenly to what the people of Kenya have said and after a holistic appraisal of the performance of the cabinet and its achievements and challenges."

The sacking of the cabinet came at a time when Kenya had experienced three weeks of unrest with the youth protesting against the Finance Bill, 2024 and the government, and as a result, 50 people have since died.

The climax of the protests was on June 25, 2024, in Nairobi when Parliament was invaded.

The country now awaits President Ruto to announce his second cabinet. Ruto on Sunday asked Kenyans to pray for him as he asserted his commitment to applying scrutiny in his search for a new cabinet.

"Pray for me that I get employees who will help me to actualize the promises I gave you," he said.

How the cabinet is appointed

The President names his nominees for the cabinet whose names are communicated to the house by the National Assembly.

The House Business Committee is charged with the responsibility of nominating members to sit in the Appointment Committee which vets the cabinet nominees.

The parliamentary approval process mandates the committee to assess a candidate's academic qualifications, professional training, experience, personal integrity, and background.

Subsequently, the committee endeavours to correlate the candidate's experience with the relevant Ministry's scope of responsibilities.

After vetting the committee tables a report of every cabinet nominee recommending either for the house to approve or reject.

Upon appointment, each Cabinet Secretary takes office after swearing or affirming allegiance to the people and the Republic of Kenya, pledging obedience to the Constitution as outlined in the Third Schedule.