Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah has announced his intention to form a shadow cabinet to counter President William Ruto’s recent Cabinet nominations.
This move comes amidst a wave of controversy over Ruto’s decision to incorporate senior leaders from the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) into his administration.
Omtatah, a vocal critic of the President’s strategy, argues that Ruto’s Cabinet reshuffle undermines the opposition’s role in government. The President has nominated 21 members to his Cabinet, many of whom are recycled faces from his previous administration.
"If that Cabinet is established, some of us will be constrained to set up a shadow Cabinet," Omtatah declared. "We shall no longer have a presidential system where we have a majority and minority side checking the executive. Instead, we will have a de facto parliamentary system where power emanates from the House. We must set up a shadow Cabinet to effectively check the excesses of this government."
Under Article 152 of the Constitution, the Cabinet comprises the President, the Deputy President, the Attorney-General, and between fourteen and twenty-two Cabinet Secretaries. The President holds the exclusive authority to nominate and, with the approval of the National Assembly, appoint these Cabinet Secretaries.
The operational details and legal authority of Omtatah’s proposed shadow cabinet remain ambiguous.
Ruto’s decision to bring ODM leaders into his Cabinet follows significant public backlash and six weeks of nationwide protests. The President's move is seen as a calculated effort to bridge political divides and stabilise a country rocked by social and economic turmoil. However, the public and opposition response has been far from positive.
The newly nominated Cabinet members from ODM are high-profile figures with substantial political influence. John Mbadi, a prominent ODM leader, is set to take on the role of National Treasury and Economic Planning Minister. Opiyo Wandayi is proposed for Energy, while Hassan Joho is slated for Mining and Blue Economy. Wycliffe Oparanya is expected to head the Ministry of Co-operatives and MSMEs. These appointments mark a significant shift in Kenya’s political dynamics, bringing opposition voices directly into the heart of the government.
President Ruto defended his choices, praising the broad-based approach and the willingness of diverse organisations to set aside partisan differences. "Their readiness to join forces for the radical transformation of Kenya marks a historic gesture of patriotism," Ruto remarked, underscoring his commitment to a unified government despite the turbulent backdrop.
Despite Ruto's assurances, the public's response has been largely negative. Young protesters, who had been vocal against the Finance Bill, 2024, argue that the inclusion of opposition leaders in the Cabinet merely perpetuates a cycle of co-opting political rivals without delivering tangible benefits to the populace. Their frustration highlights a deeper dissatisfaction with the current political system and its failure to address pressing economic and social issues.
“This mock rail that has been visited upon us, whose character we know we don't know, whose purpose we don't know. I'm left with no option but to say that this is a self-serving government that does not address at all the concerns that the Gen Z have been raising and have been driving them to the streets," remarked Omtatah.
Ruto's proposed Cabinet retains some of his previous members, including Kithure Kindiki, who served as the Interior CS in the last Cabinet. Former CSs recommended to retain their positions include Alice Wahome (Lands), Aden Duale (Environment), and Soipan Tuya (Defence).
Meanwhile, former Energy CS Davis Chirchir was nominated to the Roads and Transport docket, and former Trade CS Rebecca Miano was nominated as the new Tourism and Wildlife CS, replacing Alfred Mutua. New entrants to the Cabinet include Debra Mlongo Barasa (Health), Julius Migos Ogamba (Education), Andrew Mwihia Karanja (Agriculture), Eric Muriithi Mugaa (Water), and Margaret Nyambura Ndung'u (ICT).
The proposed Cabinet Secretaries are: John Mbadi (National Treasury), Salim Mvurya (Investment Trade and Industry), Rebecca Miano (Tourism and Wildlife), Opiyo Wandayi (Energy and Petroleum), and Kipchumba Murkomen (Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports). Others appointed were: Hassan Joho (Mining and Blue Economy), Alfred Mutua (Labour and Social Protection), Wycliffe Oparanya (Cooperatives and MSMEs Development), Justin Muturi (Public Service), and Stella Lang'at (Gender, Culture, Arts & Heritage).
