Raila is expected to push for higher stakes in the government to cement their ‘broad-based’ arrangement.
A radical purge looms large in the government following the signing of a deal between President William Ruto and ODM chief Raila Odinga.
Ruto and Raila signed a cooperation agreement at KICC in Nairobi on Friday, setting the stage for massive changes in the Kenya Kwanza government.
Raila is expected to push for higher stakes in the government to cement their ‘broad-based’ arrangement.
The President is largely expected to tweak his Cabinet, reshuffle principal secretaries and recall ambassadors to accommodate Raila’s wing.
Already, former ODM deputy party leader Wycliffe Oparanya and Hassan Joho, chairman John Mbadi and National Assembly Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi are serving as CSs in Ruto’s government.
In Parliament, Raila’s troops have seized the leadership of influential committees in both the National Assembly and the Senate.
In the Senate, ODM lawmakers are chairing seven key committees, five of which were previously led by Ruto’s UDA.
They include the Lands Committee, chaired by Mombasa Senator Mohamed Faki, the Trade Committee chaired by Kwale Senator Juma Boy and the Transport Committee led by Migori Senator Eddy Oketch.
Others are the Education Committee led by nominated Senator Betty Montent, the County Public Accounts Committee led by Moses Kajwang and the County Public Investments panel headed by Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi.
In the National Assembly, Alego Usonga MP Sam Atandi is poised to be the chairman of the Budget and Appropriations Committee, with his Seme counterpart James Nyika set to lead the health committee.
Following the signing of the deal, more changes are expected in government to entrench the agreement ahead of the 2027 polls.
Changes are expected in the Cabinet.
Since assuming power, Ruto has revised his Cabinet twice to realign with the political realities of the day.
In the wake of the Gen Z protests, Ruto sacked the entire Cabinet, save for Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign Affairs CS Musalia Mudavadi.
In the second reshuffle, Ruto incorporated into his Cabinet people believed to be close allies of retired President Uhuru Kenyatta.
In the anticipated changes, Raila is widely expected to bag the Health, Water and Agriculture or Education dockets, which are currently held by under fire Deborah Barasa, Eric Muuga, Mutahi Kagwe and Julius Migos, respectively.
There are also expected changes among the principal secretaries after the Public Service Commission conducted interviews of shortlisted candidates in January and forwarded the list of successful candidates to the President. Ruto is yet to act.
Out of the 51 PS slots, Raila is expected to get at least 16 positions. Among those to be purged are allies of impeached Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
Among the Raila allies who had been shortlisted for the PS slots include former Nyeri Deputy Governor Caroline Karugu, Dr Patrick Amoth, former Industry CAS David Osiany and online personality Gabriel Oguda. Dr Andrew Mulwa, who testified against Gachagua at the Senate, was also shortlisted.
Additionally, there are expected changes in parastatals and foreign service with appointment of chairpersons and board members as well as heads and deputy heads of missions.
Prof Peter Kagwanja told the Star on Friday that the signing of the deal signalled a total change from Ruto-Gachagua to a Ruto-Raila formation.
“The changes we are going to see will reflect the new alliance between Raila and Ruto, the two principals. And I don’t think [Deputy President Kithure] Kindiki is factored in. You could see him struggling to fit in because he is not a principal,” Prof Kagwanja said.
Notably, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, who dissolved his ANC party to join Ruto’s UDA, and his allies were missing at the event.
In an apparent reference to his former deputy, President Ruto said Friday’s moment was a mark of the end of politics of tribe and division.
The President has previously accused Gachagua of propagating tribal politics and division.
Setting the tone earlier, UDA chairperson and Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire said “to leaders who believe in the politics of regionalism, nationalism is the way”.
The two leaders insisted the agreement was not about their interests and or 2027 election but to solve various challenges facing the country