Deputy President (DP) William Ruto held a secret meeting with his inner circle on Thursday as President Uhuru Kenyatta was in DRC Congo attending the inauguration of Felix Tshisekedi.
The meeting, which was convened at the DP’s Karen home, started after 2 pm and ended past 10 pm when Ruto rushed to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to receive the president.
Top on the agenda was the recent appointment of Interior CS Fred Matiang’i as the Chairman of the National Development Implementation and Communication Cabinet Committee.
Following the appointment that was carried in Executive Order One of 2019, Matiang’i is now in charge of the delivery of all government programmes and projects.
As the Chairperson, the no-nonsense CS will report directly to the Head of State.
According to Nation, Ruto’s allies were not amused with Matiang’i’s promotion since they felt that the DP, who is the president’s principal assistant, was overlooked in the decision.
They felt that the move was meant to humiliate the DP who has been going around the country commissioning new projects.
The new arrangement means that Matiang’i will assume Ruto’s roles and this has not gone down well with the DP’s allies who have been looking for ways to counter the move.
Their concerns necessitated Thursday’s meeting whose timing was convenient since Uhuru was out of the country.
However, Ruto asked them not to engage in confrontational politics but to instead focus on the development agenda.
Three Cabinet Secretaries were among those who attended the Karen meeting. According to reports, the three had gone to consult with the DP and decided to sit through the session.
Others who were present include; Majority Leaders Kipchumba Murkomen (Senate) Aden Duale (National Assembly), Majority Whip Ben Washiali, Deputy Senate Speaker Kithure Kindiki, and Nandi Governor Stephen Sang.
