President William Ruto has explained why he picked politicians from the opposition party Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) to serve in his next cabinet.
Speaking during a town hall meeting in Mombasa, Ruto said the decision was influenced by his pledge to form a broad-based government after weeks of protests against the former Cabinet Secretaries (CSs).
“Because of the challenges and the issues that came up in the last couple of weeks going into one month, I committed to the country that I am going to form a broad-based government.
Many people are asking me to explain the meaning of a broad-based government. It is a broad-based government, that’s what it is. It is what it is,” Ruto said.
The President stated that there has been a feeling that maybe the Kenya Kwanza government is made up of his friends and buddies.
Therefore, he opted to allow ODM to join the government so that it can have the face of Kenya and stop the divisions based on sides and parties.
“I also wanted other people to join the government because for a long time, as Kenyans, we have been divided on sides. That is why I decided that this time around, let me form an administration that had the broader face of Kenya. That is why you see that some of the members of my new cabinet come from different political formations,” he said.
Ruto said he had a conversation with ODM on how they can use their common issues to move the country forward.
He stated that the discussions covered issues like the Affordable Housing Programme, Universal Health Care (UHC), and other items in the manifesto of both Kenya Kwanza and the Azimio Coalition.
“There are things that are common between us. My question is, those things that we have no contest about, can we agree on them and move the country forward? That is how we agreed with ODM to work on the broad-based government that captures some of the items that we all agree on,” he said.
Ruto Explains Reappointing Fired CSs
The President also clarified why he dismissed the whole cabinet but then renominated some twelve CSs to his next cabinet.
Ruto stated that it was necessary to start all over again since he promised to form a broad-based government.
“I have seen many people ask me why I dismissed the whole cabinet and then rehired some back. Let me answer it this way, it was necessary to have a fresh start because I told the people of Kenya, we are going to have a broad-based government and a fresh start,” he said.
Also Read: Raila Issues Statement After Nomination of ODM Leaders to Cabinet
He affirmed that the recycled CSs, including his friends, must understand that the terms are different, and they must take advantage of the second chance.
“Even those I have given another opportunity to serve in the cabinet, they must now know that this is new, and the terms are different. We may have been friends, but now the terms are different,” Ruto stated.
Besides, he explained that the renominated CSs are individuals with a good track record in their last two years in office.
“Some of the good gentlemen and ladies that I have brought on board are people who have a proven track record, and many Kenyans agree they have done a good job wherever they have been,” he added.
Listening to Gen Z Demands
Ruto said he listened to the calls of the youth by dissolving the previous cabinet and reconstituting it afresh.
He explained that he fired more than half of his cabinet and brought in new terms of operation for those who made it to the next one.
“I am listening, yes. How else would I have twelve of my CSs out if I wasn’t listening? More than half of my cabinet has left. It has never happened in Kenya’s history that more than half the cabinet has gone in one go,” Ruto said.
He stated that the next cabinet will start afresh and work on the terms and conditions given by Kenyans.
“So, I am listening, and I have said even the ladies and gentlemen that have come back to the cabinet, they have done so on new terms. We may have been friends, acquaintances, but now this is different. We are going to work on the timeline the people of Kenya have given us,” he said.
Also Read: How Kalonzo & Gen Zs Can Shape Ruto’s 2027 Re-Election Bid – Experts
No Coalition Government
However, Ruto clarified that he did not sign a coalition agreement with ODM after the nomination of its four members to serve as CSs.
He echoed sentiments by former Prime Minister Raila Odinga stating that the agreement is purely based on serving Kenyans and addressing the challenges facing the nation.
“Let me clarify, as the part of ODM did, that we did not form a coalition government so that nobody should tell us that we are trying to compromise the opposition. We have no formal coalition arrangement,” Ruto said.
“What we have is running an administration on matters that we have agreed on with members of ODM who have agreed to come work with us so that we can put the country first and be able to deal with the challenges that bring Kenya to where it is.”
He emphasized that they agreed on issues that are important to the people of Kenya without considering who takes the credit.
“I am not very keen on who takes the credit, I am keen on the transformation of Kenya,” Ruto said.
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