The dismissal of Cabinet Secretaries by President William Ruto is set to affect some government operations given the responsibilities bestowed to the CSs in law.
Despite the President assuring the country that government operations would continue normally, some functions cannot be performed by other individuals apart from a Cabinet Secretary.
Such functions as outlined by various acts of parliament include appointments of board members of state corporations, deployment of Kenya Defence Forces and gazettement of public holidays.
Board Appointments
As witnessed every Friday, Cabinet Secretaries usually make appointments to various boards. This is in line with the powers bestowed on them in the State Corporations Act.
"Unless the written law by or under which a state corporation is established or the articles of association of a state corporation otherwise require, a Board shall, subject to subsection (4), consist of not more than eleven other members not being employees of the state corporation, of whom not more than three shall be public officers, appointed by the Minister," read the Act in part.
Notably, appointments of board chairpersons can continue as that responsibility is accorded to the President.
Discontinuation of KDF Deployment
KDF officers were deployed across the country after the June 25 protests. This deployment was occasioned by a gazette notice issued by former Defence CS Aden Duale.
However, following his dismissal, the KDF officers will be forced to continue with the deployment until Duale's replacement is named, vetted and sworn into office.
This is because the Kenya Defence Forces Act stipulates that the responsibility of the gazettement on discontinuation of KDF deployment in the country is on the Defence CS.
"Where the deployment under subsection (2) has been discontinued, the Cabinet Secretary shall within twenty-four hours, issue notice in the Gazette, of the discontinuation of the deployment; and report to the National Assembly on the deployment," reads the Act in part.
Public Holiday
Gazettement of public holidays is also expected to pause given that the Interior CS is mandated to gazette various public holidays.
This is in line with the powers given to the Interior CS by the Public Holidays Act.
"The Cabinet Secretary may at any time if he thinks fit, by notice in the Gazette, declare any day to be a public holiday either in addition to the days mentioned in the Schedule or in substitution for any of those days and either throughout Kenya or in any sub-county area or part thereof," reads the Act in Part.
Ruto is expected to name new CSs in the coming days following the dismissal of his former Cabinet.
