The Four Powerful Cabinet Slots Handed to ODM in William Ruto’s Gov’t
In a surprising twist in Kenyan politics, President William Ruto is set to reconstitute his Cabinet, with the opposition ODM party receiving several powerful positions. This development follows Ruto’s dismissal of all Cabinet Secretaries on July 11, a move aimed at restructuring his administration.
According to The Star, ODM, led by former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, stands to benefit significantly from the reshuffle.
The National Treasury, Mining and Blue Economy, Energy, and Co-operatives dockets are among the high-profile positions expected to be allocated to ODM members. This allocation is seen as part of a broader strategy to foster national unity and dialogue.
The decision to include ODM in the Cabinet has sparked internal debates within the party. On July 23, Edwin Sifuna, ODM’s Secretary General, publicly stated that securing Cabinet positions was not the party’s primary objective. He emphasized that the party’s focus remained on pushing for a national dialogue to address the issues that have driven Kenyan youth to the streets in protest.
“Cabinet positions in Ruto’s administration have never been the object of the outfit,” Sifuna asserted. “Our main goal is to have a national dialogue to address the pressing issues affecting Kenyans.”
However, this stance was not universally accepted within ODM. Some senior party members expressed dissatisfaction with Sifuna’s remarks, threatening to remove him from his position if he continued to oppose those pursuing Cabinet slots. The internal discord highlights the complexities and differing priorities within the party.
Raila Odinga himself has remained ambiguous on the issue. While he has not explicitly confirmed or denied the reports, he has maintained that his primary aim in engaging with the government is to address the challenges facing Kenyans.
“Our motive behind the dialogue with the government is to have issues bedeviling Kenyans currently addressed,” Raila stated, sidestepping direct commentary on the cabinet appointments.
President Ruto named the first batch of his new Cabinet nominees on July 19. The credentials of the 11 proposed Cabinet Secretaries have been submitted to the National Assembly for vetting, marking the beginning of the official process to fill the newly vacant positions.
The inclusion of ODM in the Cabinet could signify a new era of political cooperation in Kenya, potentially easing tensions and fostering a more collaborative approach to governance.
As the vetting process unfolds, all eyes will be on the National Assembly to see how these appointments are received and what impact they will have on the nation’s political landscape.
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The Four Powerful Cabinet Slots Handed to ODM in William Ruto’s Gov’t
