President William Ruto has made it clear that he will not hesitate to change Cabinet Secretaries (CSs) whenever he deems it necessary. In a media interview with Kikuyu TV stations on March 31, 2025, Ruto emphasized that the ultimate responsibility for the actions of his Cabinet rests with him. He stated that it is his prerogative to make changes in the Cabinet and that he will only work with CSs who help him answer to the people of Kenya.
Ruto reflected on the actions of his predecessors, noting that former Presidents Mwai Kibaki and Uhuru Kenyatta had made Cabinet changes when required. He echoed this sentiment, stressing that whenever necessary, he too would exercise his authority to reshuffle his Cabinet. “The buck stops with me ultimately,” he said, underscoring his role in ensuring that those serving in his government are accountable to the public.
Since the beginning of his term in 2022, Ruto has reshuffled his Cabinet multiple times, with at least four changes to date. One significant reshuffle occurred in July 2023, when he dismissed his entire Cabinet except for Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi. The reshuffle also saw the inclusion of leaders from the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party. In the months that followed, Ruto continued to make adjustments, including a mini-reshuffle that affected a few portfolios.
In January 2025, Ruto made further changes, replacing Margaret Ndung’u and Andrew Karanja as Agriculture and ICT CSs with William Kabogo and Mutahi Kagwe, respectively. The most recent change saw Justin Muturi dismissed from his position as Public Service CS, with Mbeere North MP Geoffrey Ruku nominated as his replacement, pending vetting by the National Assembly.
President Ruto has previously criticized some CSs for incompetence, highlighting cases where ministers appeared unfamiliar with the scope of their responsibilities. Despite the dismissals, many of the removed CSs and Principal Secretaries (PSs) have been appointed to other roles, including ambassadorial positions.
