Broad-based government will unlock Kenya's potential- Ruto

President William Ruto has stated that his newly formed, broad-based administration will unlock the country's full potential.

During the swearing-in ceremony for 19 newly approved Cabinet Secretaries at State House, Nairobi, Ruto remarked that Kenya’s growth has often been hindered by political rivalry.

"The formation of this broad-based government that brings together former political rivals into one selfless patriotic team, we will unlock the potential of our country that has long been denied us by factional and sectarian competition," he said on Thursday.

"While competition is good, there is a moment when the nation's interest is greater than the interest of a political formation. It is the reason I have reached out across the aisle to bring onboard the knowledge, expertise, and experience of deserving Kenyans, though belonging to a different political formation," Ruto added.

The Head of State emphasised that there comes a time when the interests of the country are greater than those of a political party, hence the reason why he reached out to leaders from the opposition party to join his administration.

On July 11, Ruto dissolved his cabinet, sending home all cabinet secretaries and the Attorney General.

Ruto said the affairs of the ministries would henceforth be coordinated by principal secretaries until a definitive cabinet is appointed.

He later appointed Mudavadi as acting CS in all ministries.

Before the fresh nominations, Ruto had said that he was looking to consult widely to form a government of national unity.

"I will immediately engage in extensive consultations across different sectors and political formations, with the aim of setting up a broad-based government that will assist me in accelerating and expediting the necessary, urgent and irreversible, implementation of radical programmes to deal with the burden of debt, raising domestic resources, expanding job opportunities, eliminate wastage and unnecessary duplication of a multiplicity of government agencies," he said when he dissolved the Cabinet.

He nominated four ODM party members when announcing the second batch of Cabinet nominees on July 24, 204.

They include John Mbadi, now the Cabinet Secretary for Treasury, Opiyo Wandayi (Energy), (former Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho (Mining); and former Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya (Cooperatives).