Ruto Taps Former Officials for Top Government Positions

President Ruto has made changes in his administration appointing former Narok Governor Samuel Tunai as the new chair of the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) board, replacing former Transport Principal Secretary Irungu Nyakera.

Tunai, a seasoned politician and former Chief Administrative Secretary in the Ministry of Interior, brings his experience to KEMSA at a critical juncture. The agency is currently under intense scrutiny following a high-profile scandal involving a substantial mosquito net supply deal which led to the suspension of the entire board and key officials. In a parallel move, Nyakera has been reassigned as Chairman of the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) board, succeeding former Makueni Deputy Governor Adelina Mwau. This rapid turnover in appointments reflects the dynamic nature of Ruto's administration, where strategic realignments are commonplace.

The reshuffle extends beyond KEMSA and KICC, encompassing other significant appointments. Farida Karoney, a former Lands Cabinet Secretary, has been named Chairperson of the National Lottery Board for a three-year term. Additionally, Prof. Jeremiah Nyabuti has been appointed to the Physical Planners Registration Board, bringing his academic expertise in urban planning to bear on the regulation of physical planning in Kenya. Critics argue that the President may be prioritizing loyalty over competence, particularly in light of past controversies surrounding some appointees.

This criticism is further fueled by the reappointment of former Cabinet Secretaries to new roles, such as Eliud Owalo's elevation to Deputy Chief of Staff for Performance & Delivery Management. President Ruto has also appointed former Public Service CS Moses Kuria as a Senior Advisor in his Council of Economic Advisors. He has also named prominent digital strategist Dennis Itumbi as the Head of Creative Economy and Special Projects in the Executive Office of the President. Head of Public Service and Chief of Staff Felix Koskei Koskei says this appointment will help foster the administration's drive for innovation and growth in the economic sector.

Owalo and Kuria lost their Cabinet positions when President Ruto fired all his ministers following protests, though some were later reappointed. Itumbi was previously sworn in as the ICT Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) but lost the position when the High Court ruled it unconstitutional. The reshuffling strategy, while potentially strengthening Ruto's inner circle, risks alienating segments of the Kenyan public who yearn for fresh leadership.