President William Ruto has executed a significant reshuffle of his Cabinet, which included the dismissal of Public Service Cabinet Secretary (CS) Justin Muturi.
Muturi’s departure from the role was accompanied by the appointment of Geoffrey Ruku, the Member of Parliament for Mbeere North, as his successor.
This reshuffle marks a pivotal moment in Ruto’s administration as he seeks to address ongoing challenges within his government and ensure greater efficiency in public service.
Muturi’s tenure as Public Service CS ended amid rising tensions between him and the President.
The situation worsened following the abduction of Muturi’s son by state agents in June 2023, a highly publicized incident that attracted both national and international attention.
Muturi publicly disclosed the involvement of state security forces in the abduction, which further exacerbated the rift between him and the administration.
Additionally, President Ruto had previously criticized Muturi’s performance, particularly his handling of the establishment of the Muslim Endowment Fund (Waqf).
Labeling Muturi as “fairly incompetent,” Ruto’s public rebuke set the stage for Muturi’s dismissal, highlighting the deepening divide within the government.
Geoffrey Ruku, who has represented Mbeere North in Parliament, has now been nominated to replace Muturi as the CS for Public Service, with his appointment awaiting parliamentary approval.
Ruku’s experience as a legislator is seen as an asset as he takes on the critical task of addressing the ongoing challenges in public service delivery and human capital development.
His appointment aims to strengthen the ministry’s efforts to improve the efficiency of government operations and tackle the pressing needs of the public service sector.
Alongside Muturi’s removal, President Ruto also made further changes to his Cabinet.
Aden Duale, who had previously served as the CS for Environment, has now been moved to the Health Ministry.
With his extensive political experience, Duale’s move is expected to bring a fresh perspective to Kenya’s healthcare sector, an area in need of significant reform and improvement.
Meanwhile, Deborah Barasa, the former Health CS, has been reassigned to head the Environment Ministry, where her background in health is expected to guide her approach to environmental challenges.
Hannah Wendot was nominated to the Ministry of Gender and Culture which has been vacant since August 2024.
“His Excellency the president has today instituted further changes to the senior ranks of the executives within Cabinet. By the Presidential Action, the Cabinet is set to achieve its constitutional full strength,” read part of a statement shared by State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohamed.
According to Mohamed, the changes are aimed at bolstering the cabinet’s capacity to continue to steer Kenya’s socioeconomic transformation.
Following the announcement, the nominees will undergo parliamentary scrutiny. If approved, their names will be forwarded to the Head of State for appointment.
