On the floor of the Senate, James Orengo,  now Siaya governor, made an ominous warning about the art of government. 

The then-senator cautioned that “revolutions eat their own people”. 

Drawing from his long tenure as a legislator, Orengo warned that he had seen “governments eat their own people, and powerful people come and go”. 

That could well be true for President William Ruto’s administration. Facing an anti-tax revolt by young brave Kenyans called Gen Z  that posed an existential threat to his administration, Ruto embarked on a journey of political self-haemorrhage. 

Public outcry 

The first victims were ministers from his first Cabinet who were replaced by allies of Azimio leader Raila Odinga, who was accused of reaping from the blood of young Kenyans seeking to reclaim their country from the hands of an impervious political elite. 

Shortly thereafter, came the impeachment of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who was pivotal in Ruto’s poll victory. 

Then yesterday, a public outcry against State-engineered abductions of young Kenyans that had built a wedge between Ruto and Public Service Cabinet Secretary and former Attorney General Justin Muturi saw the latter’s removal. 

A day after Ruto described Muturi as “incompetent”, he was, as predicted, shown the door, in a move that could have far-reaching implications on Ruto’s efforts to assuage Mt Kenya, which is fast running away from him. 

Only hours after Muturi challenged the President over his claims that he had been incompetent as AG, he was dismissed and replaced with Mbeere North MP Geoffrey Ruku. 

Ironically, Ruku is a member of Muturi’s Democratic Party and of the Mbeere community, with the President struggling to retain the Mt Kenya voting bloc that has fallen out with him though it supported him overwhelmingly in the 2022 General Election. 

Ruto, in his bid to consolidate the vote-rich region, is expected to start his official tour next week and is expected to visit at least two counties. 

This is the third time since he was elected President that he has made changes in his Cabinet. 

And in a bid to retain his support in Baringo – where former senator Gideon Moi is angling to recapture his former seat that was left vacant by the death of Senator William Kipkorir Cheptumo – the President nominated the latter’s widow Hanna Wendot Cheptumo as the Gender Cabinet Secretary. 

Cheptumo’s nomination could be dual-intended – as a reward to her late husband, who was Ruto’s personal friend and his lawyer when he appeared before the International Criminal Court, and to thwart the possible return of Gideon through an impending by-election. 

Gideon has vowed that he will not join Ruto’s so-called broad-based government, which is a joint product of the President and ODM leader Raila Odinga. 

Trusted ally 

The Cabinet changes also saw one of Ruto’s closest and trusted allies, Aden Duale, taking the helm at the powerful Health docket, swapping places with Dr Deborah Barasa, who now moves to the Environment, Climate and Forestry ministry. 

In last July’s Cabinet reshuffle that followed the President’s decision to dissolve almost his entire Cabinet, Duale was dropped from the powerful Defence ministry that had enabled him to sit on the powerful and coveted National Security Council. 

Barasa had been under pressure over the implementation of the health insurance scheme managed by the Social Health Authority, with some lawmakers threatening to impeach her. 

With Duale, the President can now sleep soundly knowing that one of his legacy projects is in the hands of his trusted ally. 

The changes in the Health docket came just days after the President moved Medical Services Principal Secretary Harry Kimtai to the Mining docket. 

In his place, he appointed Fredrick Ouma Oluga, the former Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union secretary-general. 

Oluga was at the helm of KMPDU for five years before resigning in March 2020. 

These changes have been seen as a push by Ruto to clean up the ministry, coming as his administration is accused of poor implementation of the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF).  

Alleged cartels 

Three weeks ago, Barasa came under attack from senators and some Kenyans who said SHIF had not met the needs of patients. 

However, some lawmakers from the National Assembly came to her defence, claiming that powerful cartels operating in the Ministry of Health and who oppose SHIF were fighting Barasa in a bid to get her removed from her position. 

They claimed that the cartels that had infiltrated the defunct NHIF were fighting back in a bid to benefit from the new SHIF system. 

MPs Wamboka Wanami (Bumula), Majimbo Kalasinga (Kabuchai), John Chikati (Tongaren), John Walukhe (Sirisia), and Martin Wanyonyi (Webuye East) said they would not allow anyone to fight Barasa. 

Cabinet nominees Ruku and Cheptumo will have to appear before the Committee on Appointments, chaired by Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, for vetting. 

“By virtue of presidential action, the Cabinet is set to achieve its constitutional full strength, a move that bolsters the administration’s capacity to continue to steer Kenya’s social -economic transformation,” said Head of Public Service Felix Koskei in a statement.  

“The nominees, if approved by Parliament, will join the esteemed ranks of the nation’s apex policy organ as Cabinet secretaries.”