The recent cabinet reshuffle by president Ruto did not come as a surprise to many Kenya as were was considerable speculation from the media and other quarters that Mr Ruto’s house was not in order and thus key changes needed to be made. The question however for many Kenyans most of who feel that the government has under delivered on campaign promises is whether, the cabinet reshuffle will bring any fundamental changes as to assure a major turn around with the economic landscape and other spheres where Kenyans need to not only wait on promises given but to see results delivered for instance with the urgency in the reduction in the high of living that forms the basis of the evaluation of this government’s performance in its one year of governance.
For the former Trade CS, Moses Kuria it can be said that a lot might have contributed to his being dropped as Trade and Industrialization CS perhaps worth mentioning his many tours outside the country and his “un-availability” when called upon by the president for meetings and other official duties. It’s also worth note that the president himself prior to the reshuffle had made it public that some of his cabinet secretaries seem not to have mattes in hand on there docket and seemingly the president himself claiming to know more than those entrusted with the ministries.
Another key element that played part in this reshuffle decision was the “performance contract” as the Deputy president Rigathi Gachagua had been agitating for the need for civil servants at all levels signing performance contracts so that upon evaluation, it would be much easier for government to effect and enhance better service delivery and assure of its development agent in the bottom-up concept as promised in the manifesto.
The cutting axe of course, did also not spare the former Foreign and Diaspora affairs Cabinet Secretary, Dr Alfred Mutua who was also said to have been excessively indulged in non-work related issues and many foreign tours abroad where he was almost always out of office even when the President would need him in office as expressed by the presidents remarks during a recent cabinet meeting where some of the cabinet secretaries showed up late and un-prepared.
The office of the prime cabinet secretary held by Musalia Mudavadi was assigned new duties formerly held by Alfred Mutua but this signals more trust with Musalia’s capacity and capabilities as a more seasoned leader who once served as Deputy President in Moi’s regime even show his tenure was quite short lived.
It is worth noting however, that within the one year of running the affair of this nation, the spending by the Keny Kwanza government has not showed prudence in the austerity promises made by the leaders during their campaign pledges. It is also imperative to note that there has been displeasure from some of the unpopular measures taken by the government such as the Finance bill and subsequent increase of taxes. This unpopular policies by Kenya Kwanza government indicates that perhaps the government will remain to over promise and under deliver regardless of how many cabinet reshuffles are made during the 5 year tenure.
It is therefore, a no-brainer that without proper forward thinking being demonstrated by the government and also the many instances that betrays the government incoherence on policy from leaders in the same government, it will be difficult to assure Kenyans that any reshuffle will bring any meaningful or fundamental change in service delivery without a more coherent strategic vision for the country by the top leadership that is communicated effectively to the populace at all levels that could perhaps foster more engagement with the government and those in opposition as well as the citizenry from diverse walks of life.
Inclusion however, is a delicate balance that must be attained with or without the reshuffles as it might become more apparent that this reshuffles might become more regular than anticipated at the first swearing in of the Kenya Kwanza government leadership team led by the president William Ruto.
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