Political pundits curiously analysed President William Ruto's latest directive that gave more powers to Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi.
President Ruto, in Executive Order No. 1 of 2023, reorganised his government by splitting key ministries into more state departments.
In the new changes, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua will be chairing the Cabinet Committees and overseeing the implementation of Cabinet decisions across all Ministries and State Departments.
Mudavadi, on the other hand, was tasked with overseeing the Public Service Performance Management Unit and the government delivery services.
Political pundits sensed an impending rivalry that may finally lead to an all-out-disagreement between Mudavadi and Gachagua.
In response to the executive order, Political Analyst Herman Manyora, on Tuesday, January 10, unraveled Ruto's new order, noting that the new development may soon lead to a 'siblings' rivalry'.
"When you create a position of Prime Cabinet Secretary and a Deputy President, certainly there will be some frictions between the two," Manyora noted.
The University of Nairobi Lecturer explained that both Gachagua and Mudavadi are basking in the leadership spotlight which they should use to shine their glory.
Ordinarily, Gachagua and Mudavadi have long-term political goals which may clash, especially due to their advanced ages.
Manyora claimed that it would be very difficult for Mudavadi to become President should Gachagua throw his hat into the presidency ring for another ten years after Ruto.
"On his long-term game, the president could well be thinking of making Mudavadi his successor. That is also possible," Manyora suggested.
According to Manyora, Ruto's open support for Mudavadi is just one among the many options that he may gladly explore as part of his long-term political agenda.
However, Manyora's views were disputed by another political analyst.
In his views, political analyst Peter Kagwanja noted that the president is acting on wisdom to ensure that there are no wrangles in his cabinet.
"President Ruto is basically restoring order in the government and dealing with anarchy that went with the implementation of the 2010 constitution," Political analyst Peter Kagwanja noted.
Conversely, Kagwanja clarified that President Ruto needed to change tact from Uhuru's administrative approaches, in which he was at loggerheads with his deputy.
"It's important for the government to have an order, especially, now that the country is dealing with serious economic crises," Kagwanja noted.
Ruto also tasked Gachagua with the additional responsibility of overseeing the Coffee Sub-Sector Reforms Implementation Standing Committee.
At the same time, Ruto gave Prime Cabinet Secretary two substantive Principal Secretaries following an elevation from the designated Principal Administrative Secretary.
Mudavadi is additionally tasked with the responsibility of national coordination of all government functions while guiding the working relationship between Parliament and the Executive.
Mudavadi's Principal Secretaries for Parliamentary Affairs and Performance and Delivery Management will assist the Prime Cabinet Secretary in coordinating all government functions.
Ruto also relieved Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen of some duties when he transferred the State Departments of Housing, Urban Development, and Public Works to the Lands Ministry.
