Mathare MP warns non-performing CSs in Ruto’s cabinet
By Steve Ireri, July 27, 2025Mathare Member of Parliament Antony Oluoch has sent a stern warning to Cabinet Secretaries in President William Ruto’s administration, whom he accuses of failing to carry their weight, urging them to rise to the occasion or step aside for more proactive leaders.
Speaking during a church service on Sunday, July 27, 2025, the outspoken ODM legislator referenced the Biblical story of Andrew and Philip to draw a symbolic comparison between two types of public servants: those who act with initiative and faith and those who consistently raise doubts and offer excuses.
“That book of John that we were preached to. I have reflected on what was said. It made me think about the Andrews that we have and the Phillips that we have amongst us. Truly, there are many Phillips who say ‘it is not possible’ or ‘I do not know’,” he said.
Oluoch, while thanking President Ruto for having some ‘Andrews’ in his Cabinet, referring to proactive, solution-driven individuals, noted that several other Cabinet Secretaries are behaving like ‘Phillips’, undermining the president’s agenda through indifference or inaction.
“You have twenty-two Cabinet Secretaries, but some of them are acting like Phillips. They would make your work much easier if they acted like Andrew. I know there are a few who stand out, like Aden Duale and John Mbadi, the budget expert. Those ones are Andrews. They do their work. Even some principal secretaries, like Omolo and Hinga, do not talk much, but they act like Andrews in your administration,” he added.
The Mathare legislator further called out unnamed Cabinet members for their obsession with responding to presidential statements even from abroad, accusing them of chasing relevance instead of delivering tangible results.
“You cannot have someone who has travelled to the United States, and before the president even gets to the State House from an event, you find that person has already replied to him. It is 2 a.m. in the U.S., and someone is awake just to respond to the president. I lived in the U.S. for twelve months. You can be very busy if you are productive, but you can also be very idle if you are simply waiting for the next appointment.”
Parenting
Oluoch also addressed the president’s recent sentiments on parenting and youth responsibility, echoing the call for parents to step up and stop delegating their duties to institutions such as churches or schools.
“President Ruto said we must take responsibility for our young people. I am a parent, and we are not saying that these young people should not exercise their rights, but you cannot submit your child to the church and abandon your own responsibility. You cannot leave it to the teachers or the school system. That is what the president said. And so, to these ‘Phillips’ in his government, I say: wake up, and allow the president to focus on what he is doing while you handle your responsibilities.”