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Here is what you need to know to get up to speed with today’s happenings.

Reactions to Ruto’s cabinet reshuffle

Reactions are expected to President William Ruto’s unexpected reshuffle of his cabinet just four months after swearing them in following a massive dismissal of members of his cabinet on July 11, 2024, at the height of Gen Z protests.

In the new arrangement, Ruto moved Sports Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen to hold the powerful Interior Ministry docket which fell vacant following the appointment of Kithure Kindiki as Deputy President.

The changes have also seen former Mt Kenya leaders recycled into the Kenya-Kwanza government after Ruto fell out with his former deputy Rigathi Gachagua.

Ruto has nominated Mutahi Kagwe, Lee Kinyanjui, and William Kabogo for key Cabinet Secretary positions as part of his ongoing efforts to strengthen leadership in vital government sectors.

Health crisis averted?

In what appears to be a cease-fire, the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union (KMPDU) Secretary-General Davji Atellah on Thursday, December 19, 2024, signed agreements committing to solve the stalemate between doctors and the state.

This comes just days before a national strike which was scheduled for December 22, 2024, and would have involved both private and public health facilities.

“As of today, interns’ salaries have been updated in their payslips, aligning with the terms outlined in the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). Furthermore, 50% of the basic salary arrears are now being disbursed, with Kwale County (via KCB Bank) leading as the first to reflect these payments,” Atella said.

“We are closely monitoring the disbursement process, and we expect all doctors across the counties to receive their payments by Monday or Tuesday next week. This progress is a testament to the dedication and collective strength of our union, and we remain steadfast in our pursuit of equity, respect, and fairness in the medical profession.”