Kenyans may witness major reshuffles in leadership after President William Ruto signed Executive Order One, the official reference document for the organisation of government.
Ruto's directive, as outlined by the Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura, drafts a blueprint for a more transparent, efficient, and citizen-centred administration.
"H.E. President William Ruto has signed Executive Order No. 1 of 2025, outlining the structure of the Government of Kenya. The Executive Order details Ministries, State Departments, and the roles under the Executive Office," the statement read in part.
Among the key changes outlined in the order is an updated Cabinet structure, signalling a possible reshuffle in the various ministries. The reorganisation is designed to streamline decision-making processes and create a more agile leadership framework.
The Executive Order also called for the complete overhaul of State Departments, suggesting the removal of redundancies, enhanced coordination, and improved overall efficiency in public service delivery.
One of the most significant aspects of the new directive is the creation of designated coordination roles under the Executive Office of the President. The Office has been expanded to include the Office of the Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Strategy Delivery Unit, President’s Delivery Unit, and the Presidential Economic Transformation Secretariat.
This move is intended to ensure seamless collaboration between different arms of government, particularly in implementing national policies and development programmes.
The reorganisation has also resulted in the creation of seven new State Departments with distinct mandates. The departments are: National Government Coordination; Science, Research and Innovation; Public Investments and Assets Management; and Special Programmes.
Others are: Aviation and Aerospace Development; Children’s Services; and the Department for Justice, Human Rights and Constitutional Affairs.
The Order has set in motion major changes, including delineating functions and coordinating responsibilities across Ministries and agencies.
With these highlights in place, Kenyans may see some Cabinet Secretaries (CSs) and Principal Secretaries (PSs) reassigned to align with the new directives. The President may also appoint more leaders to fill the newly proposed positions.
President Ruto, who is currently working closely with Raila Odinga through the broad-based government, may include more Raila allies in government as he continues to reward loyalists.
Mwaura has revealed that the Order seeks to realign the administration with the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).
