Overlapping Roles in Ruto’s Administration Spark Debate on Efficiency

When President William Ruto took office nearly two years ago, he embarked on a mission to streamline governance, aiming for clarity and efficiency within his administration. His first Cabinet, named 21 months ago, was accompanied by detailed outlines of responsibilities for key officials, including his deputy, Rigathi Gachagua, and the newly created position of Prime Cabinet Secretary, led by Musalia Mudavadi. However, despite these efforts, overlapping roles within the administration have sparked debates about the effectiveness and efficiency of the government structure.

During a notable address, President Ruto emphasized the critical role of his Deputy President, Rigathi Gachagua, in ensuring the smooth implementation of Cabinet decisions across all ministries and departments. This responsibility was clearly defined as part of Gachagua’s mandate, positioning him as a key figure in the coordination of government functions.

However, this same responsibility was also assigned to Musalia Mudavadi, the Prime Cabinet Secretary. Mudavadi’s role was described as overseeing the implementation of Cabinet decisions, as well as national government policies, programs, and projects. President Ruto further elaborated on Mudavadi’s duties, highlighting his responsibility to “assist the President and the Deputy President in the coordination and supervision of government ministries and state departments,” and to “coordinate and supervise the technical monitoring and evaluation of government policies, programs, and projects across ministries.”

This dual assignment of roles raised eyebrows, particularly because the Ministry of Public Service, Performance, and Delivery Management, led by CS Justin Bedan Muturi, has a similar mandate. Muturi’s ministry is tasked with overseeing the performance of government ministries, departments, and agencies in service delivery, as well as monitoring the implementation of government priority programs and projects. The overlap in responsibilities between Gachagua, Mudavadi, and Muturi introduces a layer of complexity that critics argue could lead to inefficiencies rather than the streamlined governance that President Ruto envisioned.

Adding to the complexity is the appointment of Eliud Owalo, the former CS for ICT, as the Deputy Chief of Staff in charge of Performance and Delivery Management. Owalo’s role, which also involves overseeing the performance of government ministries, departments, and agencies in service delivery, further muddies the waters. The duplication of duties between Owalo and Muturi’s ministry raises questions about the necessity of such parallel structures within the administration.

This overlapping of responsibilities is not confined to the top echelons of government. In the broader public service sector, similar duplications exist. The Ministry of Public Service, the Office of the Head of Public Service, and the Public Service Commission all have mandates that revolve around promoting efficiency, good governance, and effective service delivery within the public service. While CS Muturi handles the general public service docket, the Public Service Commission, primarily responsible for recruitment, also plays a role in promoting good governance and ensuring efficiency in public service. Meanwhile, Felix Koskei, the Head of Public Service, is tasked with promoting ethics, good governance, and efficiency across the public sector, adding yet another layer of potential overlap.

President Ruto has acknowledged the challenge posed by these duplications, particularly in light of Kenya’s significant wage bill. “Our wage bill is 47% of our revenue. It should be 35% according to the law. So, we are way above. So, we need a conversation so that we can progressively [reduce this],” Ruto stated, signaling the need for a reassessment of the current government structure.

Critics argue that the overlapping roles not only undermine the government’s pledge to cut costs but also add unnecessary complexity to the governance framework. As the administration faces growing pressure to adhere to its promises of reducing public expenditure, the duplications in roles within Ruto’s government have become a focal point of debate. The challenge now lies in whether the government can find a way to streamline these roles, ensuring that efficiency and clarity in governance are not sacrificed in the pursuit of a leaner public service.