Ruto in dilemma on whether to reshuffle Cabinet or not
National
By
Edwin Nyarangi
| Jul 20, 2026
President William Ruto is facing a dilemma on whether to reshuffle his Cabinet or not and reduce the number of Cabinet Secretaries from the Mount Kenya region as he seeks to build new alliances in readiness for the 2027 general election.
Ruto has been forced to go back to the drawing board after it became clear that it was highly unlikely that the Mount Kenya region, which currently has eight Cabinet Secretaries, might not support him after all in his re- election bid and that he should look for support elsewhere.
The President might be forced to look for support, especially in Western Kenya and Luo Nyanza regions, which have shown that they might support him but with a condition that he has to give more goodies to the areas, which include development projects and more appointments to carry their favour.
The performance of the UDA Candidate in the Ol Kalou Constituency by-election, Samuel Muchina, in which he got 5,450 compared to the winner, Sammy Ngotho (DCP), who got 35,440 votes, despite heavy investment by the government in the campaigns, has jolted Ruto’s team to reality.
“There will be Kenya after the election, and we must live together as brothers and sisters of one nation. Once the election is over, we must remember that this country belongs to all of us. All leaders will be judged based on their development record rather than campaign promises,” said Ruto.
Cabinet Secretaries from the Mount Kenya region include: Alice Wahome (Lands), Mutahi Kagwe (Agriculture), William Kabogo(Communication), Lee Kinyanjui(Trade), Rebecca Miano(Tourism), Geoffrey Ruku (Public Service), Eric Muuga(Water) and Mercy Wanjau(Secretary to the Cabinet).
Cabinet Secretaries from the Mount Kenya region, joined by their colleagues from other parts of the country, tried to lobby the residents of Ol Kalou to support the government-aligned candidate through several development projects, but the scheme eventually flopped.
Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) Leader Rigathi Gachagua accused President Ruto of orchestrating violence, intimidation and massive misuse of State resources during the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election.
Gachagua claimed the government deployed unprecedented financial resources, security personnel and senior State officials in a failed attempt to influence the outcome of the by-election. outcome signalled the political decline of the ruling UDA Party in Mount Kenya.
“The government deployed development projects worth Sh14 billion, distributed Sh1.1 billion in cash during the campaign period, alongside donations of household items and equipment, in an effort to sway voters but the Olkalou residents were not influenced at all,” said Gachagua.
Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka, who is Ruto’s campaign coordinator in Western, called for the president to consider handing over the deputy position to Western Kenya, describing the Olkalau loss as a wake-up call to the President that things were not good for him in the Mount Kenya region.
"The President should consider giving Western Kenya the deputy president's slot since it was clear that the Mount Kenya region is unlikely to reciprocate his development agenda for them, the many development projects underway will further consolidate support for his re-election," he said.
Some ODM leaders from the West feel that Cooperative Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya should be named as Ruto’s running mate in place of Deputy President Kithure Kindiki to counter the rising wave in support of Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna.
In Luo Nyanza region, those supporting Ruto’s re-election want Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga named as a running mate to consolidate the votes into one basket in support of the President since it was clear that the Mount Kenya region would not support his re-election bid.
Even within the Kenya Kwanza coalition, Kindiki’s own allies appear to have turned against him and are among those drumming up support for his replacement, but with a caveat that the replacement should come from their regions.
Political Analyst Mutahi Ngunyi stated that the results of the Olkalou by-election were a demonstration that Ruto had lost grip in the Mount Kenya region and that it was high time he focused on his re-election plan without considering the region.
“Dear Ruto. No point courting Kikuyus. You have tried. They have rejected you. Ol Kalau is the testament. Turn to the Luo Nation and Mulembe Nation. Ol Kalau is a pain point for you. Or was it an experiment to justify discarding Kikuyus?9 Kikuyu ministers? fire them,” said Ngunyi.
Advocate Ahmed Nassir Abdullahi observed that it was obvious that if Ruto stuck with Deputy President Kithure Kindiki as his running mate, he would not attract any significant votes in the voter-rich region.
According to the Advocate, it was clear that the UDA candidate would be beaten by the DCP candidate in Ol Kalou and they aimed to reduce the gap to validate the propaganda that Ruto still retained significant support in the Mount Kenya region, a strategy that did not work.
“Stick with Prof Kithure Kindiki and believe the false narrative that you will get 40% of the Mount Kenya vote and know that a humiliating defeat is certain. Or act the political fox you always have been, pick a Luo or a Luhya running mate (preferably the latter) and hit the road running,” said Abdullahi.