Is Cabinet, Security Council not up to the advisory task?

The Constitution of Kenya provides for the Office of Deputy President, Cabinet Secretaries and Attorney General all who sit in Cabinet as key advisers to the President.

On his core mandate of national security, the President is advised by the National Security Council of which he is the chairperson. The Deputy President, Cabinet Secretaries for Internal Security, Defence, Foreign Affairs and Attorney General also sit in the Council.

Other members of the Council include the Chief of Defence Forces, Inspector General of Police and Director General of National Intelligence Service, who are specialists in their fields and are tasked to advice the President accordingly on matters in their domain.

Since President Ruto took over office he has set a record for establishing the largest number of advisers, 20 in total leaving Kenyans wondering their role given that he has a Cabinet and the National Security Council which are constitutionally mandated to advise him.

The presidential advisers some of whom are employed at level of Cabinet Secretaries while others at Principal Secretaries level are today costing the taxpayer a whopping Sh1 billion to run their offices according to an accounting report to Parliament by State House.

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Barrack Muluka, a strategic political communication and leadership communication consultant, said that presidential advisory is a serious engagement and is not something to be taken lightly, with Cabinet Secretaries taking an oath to do this when sworn into office.

Muluka said giving such a role to other individuals that have not been sworn to any oath of office is an assault to the Constitution.

Such a role should be a binding one and must have a clear distinction between in it and that of Cabinet Secretaries. 

“These roles have been used as dumping ground for people who have failed to serve as Cabinet Secretaries and were close to the President and also used to maintain loyalty of allies who served in the trenches and not necessarily due to their qualifications,” said Muluka.

He said all over the world presidents have engaged experts in certain fields to serve as their advisers while in Kenya that has not been the case. Presidents use the office to reward for supporting the administration.

Muluka said Ruto needs to send most of his advisers home. The sectors they represent are in shambles — Security, Health, Education and the Economy which have been struggling which raises questions on whether there is proper advise emanating from the advisers.

“The challenge is that most presidential advisers are there for political expediency and not necessarily to perform any specific roles, that is why most will remain silent get their hefty perks and enjoy their lives since their input might not necessarily be needed,” said Muluka.

Former Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana who served as presidential adviser on Constitutional Affairs and Youth Affairs to former President Mwai Kibaki said Kibaki had only three advisers during his second term. All other roles of advice were exercised by the Cabinet.

Prof Kibwana has raised concerns about the competence of some advisers Ruto has appointed wondering whether they were being rewarded for their political fidelity.

He said it was clear some were not experts in the areas which they are supposed to give advice.

“During my tenure as an adviser to Kibaki he ensured the people he appointed were experts in their respective fields, you were given an assignment, did your research and submitted it to the President who will then decide on how to use it,” said Kibwana.