After William Ruto emerged as the winner of the hotly contested General Election he immediately embarked on a mission to assemble his government starting with the Cabinet.
However, noticeably, some key allies of the President especially those who were diehards of the hustler narrative were left out of his inner circle.
After the president unveiled his full Cabinet, his hands are still tied to fulfil the pre-election deals he signed with Kenya Kwanza principals.
Kenyans.co.ke looks at five politicians who have gone silent after Ruto named his Cabinet. They are neither seen nor heard. What are they up to?
1. Musalia Mudavadi
Musalia Mudavadi is the new silent sheriff in town after he was named the Prime Cabinet Secretary by President William Ruto. During the campaigns, Ruto had promised the ANC boss that he would make him the Prime CS under his government
However, his position is not provided in the Constitution. Some politicians argue that the former Vice President will be Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua's personal assistant. This is because of thin line between their roles, which seem to overlap.
"Musalia Mudavadi holds the position of the third most senior executive officer. He will report to Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who will be his boss," stated Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei, a close ally of Ruto.
The President tasked the ANC leader with assisting the office of the President and that of his deputy in supervising state ministries. Ruto has also tasked Mudavadi with facilitating inter-ministerial coordination of cross-functional initiatives and programs.
2. William Kabogo
Former Kiambu Governor William Kabogo has had to swallow a bitter pill after he lost the Kiambu gubernatorial elections and definitely missed out on Ruto’s lineup. The Tujibebe Party leader has now gone silent despite being among the first politicians to congratulate Ruto after he was declared president.
Prior to the General election, Kabogo had a frosty relationship with other Kenya Kwanza luminaries. At one point, he quit hustler campaigns over disagreements with his Chama cha Kazi counterparts Moses Kuria and Kimani Wamatangi who won the gubernatorial race.
3. Hassan Omar
Former Mombasa Gubernatoral loser Hassan Omar was Ruto's point man in the coastal region. He was initially touted as Kenya Kwanza's candidate for the position of Senate Speaker before the coalition settled on former Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi.
4. Cleophas Malala
Former Kakamega Senator is one of the allies of President Ruto from the Western region who did not make it to the list of Cabinet secretaries, jolting his hope of keeping alive his political career.
Earlier, reports indicated that Malala, who lost the gubernatorial bid to ODM's Fernandez Barasa, was to get a soft landing in Ruto's government as a sports CS.
However, since former Budalangi MP Ababu Namwamba was nominated, Malala was deflated and went mum.
On the other hand, Malala's deputy Beatrice Inyangala has already made the shortlist of Principal Secretaries. President William Ruto is expected to name 49 Principal Secretaries, appointments likely to be a reward for his cronies.
5. Johnson Muthama
Former Machakos Senator Johnson Muthama is among Kenya Kwanza heavyweights lying low since Ruto appointed his Cabinet.
Muthama, who is also UDA chairman on Monday, October 10, claimed that he will soon get a position to serve despite missing a slot in the Cabinet.
Muthama who unsuccessfully vied for the Machakos gubernatorial seat, while speaking to TV47, stated that everyone cannot be in the cabinet.
The UDA Chairman said if everyone who supported the UDA party had to be rewarded, then the president will have to create a million positions.
Ruto's dilemma
Ruto is in a political dilemma as he assembles his government. He is in torn between rewarding loyalists and presenting himself as the President of every Kenyan.
The President is also likely to keep the controversial Cabinet Administrative Secretaries' slots and dish them out to his allies.
Parastatals and ambassadorial appointments will also offer a soft landing for political rejects and retirees as the President seeks to ensure regional, ethnic and political balance. In the words of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, "every part of a cow is meat, including the tail."
