Africa
| Appointments
Kenya
Ruto Faces Tough Task in Appointment of Principal Secretaries
Bahati shalom
Nov 24, 2024
President William Ruto of Kenya
President William Ruto is preparing a major reshuffle of Principal Secretaries (PSs) in a move aimed at rewarding loyalty, addressing underperformance, and balancing regional and gender representation. This shake-up comes as part of his mid-term review, with an eye on the 2027 elections.
The Public Service Commission (PSC) has invited applications for PS positions, with insiders revealing some preferred candidates have already been identified. Political analysts suggest Ruto faces a delicate task of blending competence with political interests.
“It is a delicate balance for the President… but there is no doubt he will look widely to blend his administration with competence and political interests,’’ said analyst Dismus Mokua.
Ruto’s past appointments heavily favored his strongholds, with regions like Mt Kenya and Rift Valley receiving significant shares. For example, Rift Valley was allocated 15 PS positions, while opposition regions like Nyanza saw reduced representation. Gender representation has also been criticized, with only 12 women named as PSs in 2022, sparking protests.
The upcoming changes could see more representation for previously sidelined areas like Kisii and Nyamira, with leaders from the Gusii region lobbying for at least two PS slots. Raila Odinga’s allies are reportedly set to receive up to 10 PS positions as part of broader government inclusivity efforts.
While rewarding loyalists and technocrats, Ruto’s challenge lies in ensuring a government that reflects the face of the nation.
