Former Public Service Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria has taken credit for masterminding the formation of President William Ruto’s 'broad-based' government, revealing that he urged Ruto to include opposition figures in the Cabinet long before the deadly protests led by Gen Z youth swept across the nation.
Kuria's admission comes on the heels of a month of intense speculation within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) as internal power struggles emerged over who would secure key Cabinet posts. However, the manoeuvring within Kenya Kwanza, the ruling coalition, had remained largely hidden until Kuria’s explosive revelations.
In an interview on Citizen TV on Monday, August 12, Kuria, who was one of the 12 Cabinet Secretaries removed to make space for opposition leaders, disclosed that he foresaw potential unrest and advised President Ruto to take preemptive action by integrating the opposition into the government.
“For the avoidance of doubt, this issue of inviting the opposition to the government—I can largely claim it to be my idea...It was my idea. Way before Gen Z. I could see some trouble ahead. I was discussing with the President, look, we need to reform our politics. And if we have to get out of this, we need to get things out of the box,” Kuria asserted.
Pressed for more details on his conversations with President Ruto, Kuria recounted how he personally lobbied senior opposition figures, including former Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi, former Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho, and ODM luminary Oburu Odinga, to take up Cabinet positions.
“I remember having lunch with Oburu Odinga to convince him why they should accept the positions. He asked me, ‘Are you not afraid that you will lose your position?’ To which I responded, ‘So be it. It was for the good of the country,’” Kuria stated.
The former Gatundu MP also revealed that he had been prepared to travel to Dubai to persuade Raila Odinga, the opposition leader, who was abroad at the time. “I had my ticket in my hand, ready to go and convince Raila why this was a good idea,” Kuria said, emphasising the lengths he went to ensure the plan’s success.
Kuria framed his actions as necessary for the country's future, implying that the decision to incorporate opposition members into the government was vital for national stability. He stopped short of specifying exactly when these discussions took place but confirmed that they predated the nationwide protests that erupted following the contested 2022 election results.
These protests, led by Raila Odinga and his Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition co-principals Martha Karua and Kalonzo Musyoka, shook the nation to its core.
The unrest was sparked by widespread dissatisfaction with the Finance Bill, 2024, and culminated in President Ruto's decision to withdraw the bill after six weeks of unrelenting demonstrations.
"The question before us was clear," Kuria remarked. "Do you want a country or a government? For me, I choose a country.”
The so-called 'broad-based' government eventually saw several high-ranking ODM members appointed to key positions. Hassan Joho was nominated as Cabinet Secretary for Mining, Blue Economy, and Maritime Affairs; Wycliffe Oparanya was designated Cabinet Secretary for Cooperatives; John Mbadi took the helm at the National Treasury; and Opiyo Wandayi was appointed to head the Energy and Petroleum Ministry.
These appointments marked a significant political shift, with President Ruto bringing on board allies of Raila Odinga, the opposition leader he defeated in the 2022 election. The move was seen as a bold attempt to quell the unrest that had paralysed economic activities across the country.
However, the young protesters who were the driving force behind the demonstrations against the Finance Bill had already expressed their disapproval of any unity government.
