Loyalty or competence? The bane of Ruto’s cabinet appointees
Muturi has been a sore thumb in Ruto’s government, criticizing his boss and displaying defiance without a blink.
President William Ruto made fresh changes in his cabinet on Wednesday where the top government’s decision-making organ got new members while one was sent packing.
Ruto’s choice of cabinet secretaries has raised debate on whether he prefers loyalty over competence or both.
According to Constitutional experts Jill Cottrell Ghai and Yash Pal Ghai of the Katiba Institute; a lobby seeking to promote knowledge and understanding of Kenya’s Constitution and constitutionalism, the choice of CS is that of the President, but he should bear in mind why he is free to choose, not just political support but competence should be taken into consideration.
“Competence need not mean technical skills in the field. We can ask whether technical proficiency in a specific area of life is necessarily the best preparation for a related policy making role in government. Almost certainly, political sense, common sense, and various other non-technical qualities, are just as necessary,” they note.
In the latest cabinet changes announced, CS Aden Duale was moved to the Health docket while Deborah Barasa took his place as the new Environment CS.
Additionally, President Ruto nominated Hanna Wendot Cheptumo as Gender Cabinet Secretary. She is the widow of Baringo Senator William Cheptumo who died in February this year. He also nominated Mbeere North MP Geoffrey Ruku to replace the sacked Justin Muturi as the Cabinet Secretary for Public Service, Human Capital Development.
Ruku and Cheptumo will now face MPs for vetting and, if successful, will be the latest entrants into the ever-changing Ruto Cabinet.
“The two nominees are expected to bring to the Cabinet not only the knowledge and experience acquired over the course of their illustrious careers but, above all, their wisdom accumulated from their inspiring and diverse life journeys,” read the communication by Head of Public Service Felix Koskei.
After his transfer to the Health docket, Duale said his priority will be to advance the Universal Health Coverage program to ensure equitable healthcare access to all.
“I am deeply grateful to President William Ruto for his trust and confidence in appointing me to lead the Ministry of Health. It has been an honour serving at the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change & Forestry, where we advanced key environmental and climate action policies,” he said.
Muturi's defiance
Muturi has been a sore thumb in Ruto’s government, criticizing his boss and displaying defiance without a blink.
His open confrontation with Ruto and other government officials strained working relations. For instance, just a day before his sacking, he dismissed accusations of incompetence leveled against him by President William Ruto.
Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi. (Photo: X/Justin Muturi)
The President, while hosting an Iftar dinner for the Muslim community on Tuesday, March 26, at State House, Nairobi, blamed the former Attorney General for derailing the rollout of a proposed Muslim Endowment Fund (Waqf).
Waqf, a charitable asset whose income is permanently dedicated to religious and charitable purposes, including education, healthcare, and social services, was enacted in 2022 but has faced delays in implementation.
"I agree with you that the Muslim Endowment Fund has taken too long. There is no reason. I had a problem with the AG who was there; he was fairly incompetent, but we now have a competent lady, and I can assure you that the issue will be sorted out," said Ruto.
However, in a quick rejoinder, Muturi disclosed that “under the Waqf Act No. 8 of 2022, there’s no provision for a ‘Muslim Endowment Fund.
“It must be understood that a Waqf is a religious, charitable, or benevolent endowment by a person who professes the Muslim faith and is managed by the Waqf Commission,” he added.
Law experts and political observers who spoke to The Eastleigh Voice opine that Ruto’s consideration for cabinet pick is loyalty and not ability to steer service delivery to Kenyans.
Lawyer Macharia Njeru, who is a former vice chair of the Judicial Service Commission, labelled the head of state as incompetent.
Lawyer Willis Otieno, an expert in governance, public law, and constitutional and administrative law, poked holes in Ruto’s latest cabinet changes.
“It doesn’t make any governance sense and it is a clear demonstration of Ruto’s lack of concern to the health sector in the country. How on earth in the middle of the many crises in the health sector at the moment would Duale qualify to head such a crucial ministry that is in charge of policy leadership on health?” asked Otieno.
In respect to who qualifies to be a cabinet secretary, he noted that the Constitution does not need to set out qualifications for all positions, but it is assumed that the president will exercise good judgment and prudence in nominating persons to serve in high levels of the executive.
Coast based Political Analyst Kazungu Katana, however, agrees with Ruto. In his view, there is an utmost need for a presidential appointee to be loyal to him. “Loyalty first. A presidential appointee must, of necessity, be loyal to him and his policies. Other considerations follow".
Murang’a Senator Joe Nyutu believes that Ruto’s number one consideration is sycophancy to him and his administration.
“Sycophancy, not even loyalty, is all he considers. The second thing, which should be the first, is Raila's ego. He has to please and meet all the demands from Raila as he is his life support machine,” noted Nyutu.
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