Eyes on roles of Gachagua, Mudavadi in new Cabinet

President William Ruto is expected to sign executive orders designating duties to his deputy, Rigathi Gachagua, and Amani National Congress leader Musalia Mudavadi as Prime Cabinet Secretary, both of who are henceforth expected to play critical roles in the new administration.

The two are among the key allies looking to the new Head of State to assign them top roles in the Kenya Kwanza administration. Gachagua, who took the oath of office on Tuesday alongside the President, will be one of the key leaders. 

Although Gachagua is constitutionally recognised as the principal assistant of the President, Ruto — who occupied the office since 2013 — promised to enhance its role after being sidelined by the former administration for the past five years.

After falling out with then-President Uhuru Kenyatta, Ruto was pushed to the periphery of the Jubilee administration and had to contend with insignificant tasks. The duties he had performed in the former government’s first term were handed to Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i.

 Vibrant office

With the troubles he faced, Ruto, while on the campaign trail, said he would not make his deputy go through the same treatment, promising to make the office more vibrant and with tangible roles. 

 “On my first day in office, I have every intention to sign an executive order, according to Article 21E of the Kenya Kwanza coalition agreement, to clarify the roles of a Deputy President, which will include coordinating Cabinet affairs,” said Ruto when he picked Gachagua as his deputy in May, 2022.  

It is expected that Rigathi will be tasked with largely coordinating government projects, implementation of policies, receiving reports and ensuring a smooth working relationship with the counties.

He will also be the central figure coordinating the ministries to be created by the President by the end of next week. On this, he will be working with Mudavadi, who was promised a powerful Prime Cabinet Secretary position when he signed an agreement with Ruto in January this year.

The new office is not anchored in the Constitution and it remains unclear if the ruling alliance will push for a change of law to accommodate it.

Other key allies of the President are also angling for senior positions.

 in government. Former Tharaka-Nithi Senator Kithure Kindiki, former governors Josphat Nanok, Alfred Mutua, Salim Mvurya, UDA chairman Johnstone Muthama and the Chief of Staff at the Deputy President’s office, Davis Chirchir, are also waiting for senior posts.

When he entered into a deal with Mudavadi, Ruto said he would also sign an executive order to establish it, and it is expected it will elucidate what powers it will come with.

A week after Ruto was declared the winner of the August 9 presidential election, Mudavadi’s party reminded him of the promise, saying it was a key plank of their agreement.

“The new position to be created through an Executive Order was agreed upon by the founding party members of Kenya Kwanza … and signed by Ruto of UDA, Moses Wetang’ula of Ford Kenya and Mudavadi on behalf of ANC party,” said the party. 

The President will have to make clear the roles of the two offices to avoid a supremacy battle.

Keen to assure those who worked with him, Ruto has said he will enforce agreements entered with allies and has already ensured the election of Wentang’ula as National Assembly Speaker, a position he promised the Ford Kenya leader during the campaigns.

Other key allies of the President are also angling for senior positions in government. Former Tharaka-Nithi Senator Kithure Kindiki, former governors Josphat Nanok, Alfred Mutua, Salim Mvurya, UDA chairman Johnstone Muthama and the Chief of Staff at the Deputy President’s office, Davis Chirchir, are also waiting for senior posts.

On Tuesday, he said he would remain loyal to the President, promising to ensure the administration fulfilled its promises to wananchi.

“I do not think I will fill the big shoes left by the President (Ruto). But if I achieve 60 per cent of what he did in the first term, then I hope Kenyans will understand me,” Rigathi said.