President William Ruto spent most of his first full day in office being briefed by top government officials as he sought to stamp authority early on in his administration.

The Head of State is said to have had a packed 24 hours since he took over the reins of power on Tuesday as he hosted Heads of State who graced his inauguration and also started the reorganisation of the government he inherited from his predecessor Uhuru Kenyatta.

After the swearing-in ceremony at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, Ruto hosted a late luncheon at State House, which ended at 8pm on Tuesday.

After that, he went into a late meeting with Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Amani National Congress leader Musalia Mudavadi, former Speaker Justin Muturi and former Foreign Affairs Chief Administrative Secretary Ababu Namwamba which ended just after midnight.

The President spent the night at his home in Karen as State House is still being refurbished to capture his family’s  preferences after Uhuru vacated.

Yesterday, Ruto is said to have arrived at State House at 6.50am and immediately went into a meeting with Gachagua at around 7.20am.

From 8am, he received briefings from Principal Secretaries led by Interior Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho. Others who briefed him were Treasury, Education, Foreign Affairs, Devolution PSs among others.

In what could lift the lid on the composition of the incoming administration, members of his inner circle including former National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi, outgoing Chief of Staff at the Deputy President’s office David Chirchir, former Mandera Central MP Abdikadir Mohamed, former Machakos governor Alfred Mutua and economist David Ndii were present at State House.

At 12pm, he held a meeting with his strategists led by Gachagua, Mudavadi and others before breaking to witness the swearing-in of judges.

In between, he hosted some of the 20 Heads of State who attended his swearing-in on Tuesday.

First it was Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud who met Ruto against a backdrop of uncertainty over the relationship between the two neighbouring countries.

Miraa exports

Recently, Somalia lifted its ban on exportation of miraa from Kenya that had been imposed in 2020 following escalation of a cold war between the two nations.

“We will fast-track the implementation of the Joint Commission for Cooperation between Kenya and Somalia. This will boost trade in miraa and fish and ease movement between our two nations,” said Ruto.

 The two countries signed the cooperation agreement early this year and its main objective is to boost the nation’s relations following recent upheavals.

 Next was South Sudan counterpart Salva Kiir, who also held bilateral talks with the President, as the two countries seek to strengthen relations.

 “We are working with South Sudan in enhancing intra-African trade through the strengthening of the East Africa Community and other regional blocs in the continent,” Ruto said. 

The President also met Republic of Congo president Denis Sassou Nguesso before hosting a delegation led by Chrysoula Zacharopoulou, the French Secretary of State to the Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs.

Former Foreign Affairs Chief Administrative Secretary Ababu Namwamba, whose name has been heavily linked to the Cabinet Secretary’s portfolio in the ministry, accompanied Ruto to the meetings.

The swearing-in of the six judges brought to an end a long-drawn supremacy battle between the Office of the President and the Judiciary that threatened to spill over into name calling in Uhuru’s administration.

JSC approval

The four Court of Appeal judges and the two for the High Court were among a cohort of 41 approved by the Judicial Service Commission in 2019 but whose approval by the retired President was delayed for over two years. One of them died last year.

In June last year, the former leader appended his signature to the appointment of 34 judges leaving out six who Ruto approved and gazetted their names on Tuesday evening.

He witnessed their swearing in at State House together with Gachagua, Chief Justice Martha Koome, her deputy Philomena Mwilu and Attorney General Kihara Kariuki. Also present was former CJ David Maraga and other senior leaders including Mudavadi.

Before retiring in January last year, Maraga had accused the President of violating the Constitution by failing to approve the judges.

The new President promised to have an open-door policy with the arms of government saying he would be ready to dialogue with them in case of disagreements.

Administration of justice

He also said his administration will respect the Judiciary and will ensure it is better funded.

“My administration will respect the independence of the Judiciary, will respect the independence of all the other institutions in a manner that makes them efficient to deliver on their respective mandates. We will promote dialogue between institutions and positive engagement so that we can all focus on how to take Kenya to a higher level,” said Ruto.

He also asked Kenyans to respect the law saying any attempts to subvert it would lead to anarchy.

“We must firmly and decisively deal with impunity. Kenya can only be better if we obey the rule of law, any other route leads to anarchy and confusion. I ask all of us we are all equal before the law and Constitution,” he added. Ruto began his life at State House enjoying the services of hundreds of senior staff including Head of Civil Service Joseph Kinyua who were employed by the fourth President.

Most of them have midwifed the transition despite taking sides in the last elections and were accused by Ruto and his allies of frustrating his presidential bid.