Ruto's rejigged government good for all Kenyans

Kenya’s politics is by nature fractious and confrontational, sometimes even violent.

Last week’s Cabinet reshuffle and the reorganisation of various aspects of the government proves it. Whilst some have lauded the new face of the government, there is disquiet in some sections.

Truth be told, it is impossible to grow the country’s economy without first stabilising its politics.

The fact that the Kenya Kwanza administration won the last elections by a narrow margin means a large section of the country feels disenfranchised by their exclusion from the government.

It is for this reason that the broad-based government is now a reality. Deputy President Kithure Kindiki acknowledged as much in a recent newspaper report saying, “changes must be made to advance national interests” and that “this is the spirit of broadening political consensus so that the country can move forward.”

It is also true that delivery on the social contract between the government and citizens has been impeded by violently confrontational politics.

According to the Kenya Association of Manufacturers chair Rajan Shah, the country lost Sh2.6 billion daily during last year’s “maandamano.” This year’s Gen Z protests have also had a deleterious effect on the economy with newspaper reports saying, “the protests slowed KRA collections to a decade low.”

Dr Ruto’s rearrangement of the government is salutary for the following reasons. First, it is now a broad reflection of the face of Kenya. This is in the sense that it has now included people from a cross-section of Kenya’s huge ethnic diversity. It has debunked the myth that the country’s leadership belongs to a narrow clique of people pejoratively known as “shareholders” to the exclusion of others.

Second, it has replaced beneficiaries of political sinecures with characters selected meritoriously. There previously have been personality clashes within the government especially amongst public appointees who never had a proper grasp of their roles. For instance, chairpersons of State corporations who tried to exert executive influence. Or members of the Cabinet way in over their heads in matters of government to the extent that the President has had to intervene several times.

Already, the effects of a broad-based government are beginning to bear fruit. Unwarranted criticism of the government’s efforts has abated. Even die-hard critics are giving the government credit where it is due.

Newspaper columnist Jaindi Kisero, speaking of the petroleum government-to-government deal that had previously attracted opprobrium said it “saved the marketing system from a biting foreign exchange liquidity problem that was threatening to plunge the country into unprecedented shortages of petroleum products.”

Some public appointments are worth mentioning. CS John Mbadi stands out for measures he is instituting at the Treasury to curb corruption and wastage in the public sector.

Some of these measures include e-procurement and zero-based budgeting. Former Laikipia governor Ndiritu Muriithi’s appointment as chair of KRA is also laudatory. A seasoned technocrat, it is hoped that he will provide the policy direction KRA needs for a less fractious interface with the public, as necessary but painful tax measures are implemented.

Merry Christmas to all my readers.

Mr Khafafa is a public policy analyst