The President, flanked by Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and ANC party leader Musalia Mudavadi, named members of his first cabinet. This happened two weeks after his inauguration and on the afternoon of the day the President and Deputy President meet the outgoing cabinet in the morning. Get to know the President’s men and women. The profiles of the men and women who will serve Kenya in President Dr. William Ruto’s cabinet.
Deputy President – Hon. Rigathi Gachagua
By way of executive order by The President, the Deputy President will deputize the President in all matters as envisioned in the constitution.
- Deputise the president in the execution of all presidential functions that are allowed by the constitution and law.
- Chair public committees, oversee implementation of cabinet decisions across all ministries and departments.
- Coordinate intergovernmental relations between the national government and county governments including chairing the Intergovernmental Budget and Economical Council (IBEC).
- Be the liaison between the constitutional commissions and independent offices in matters that require intervention by the national government including budgets policy formulation and implementation of their recommendations.
- Coordinate the planning and supervise the implementation of development partners-funded programs and projects.
- Oversee public sector reforms and any other functions assigned to him from time to time.
Prime Cabinet Secretary – Hon. Wycliffe Musalia Mudavadi
When appointing Mudavadi, the president termed this position as the most senior after the Presidency. His role as the first among equals will entail assisting the President and Deputy President in various duties of coordination of government functions.
Read: The In-tray of Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi
Cabinet Secretary Interior and National Administration – Hon. Prof Abraham Kithure Kindiki
Abraham Kithure Kindiki is the immediate former the senator of Tharaka Nithi county.
Cabinet Secretary Finance – Prof. Njuguna Ndungu
Prof Njuguna Ndungu is a former governor of the Central Bank of Kenya served as CBK Governor for two consecutive four-year terms between March 2007 and March 2015. He is a professor of economics and steered Kenya’s economy back to robust health after the 2007 post election violence.
Cabinet Secretary Public Service, Gender & Affirmative Action – Hon. Aisha Jumwa Katana
Hon. Aisha Jumwa Katana is the immediate former member of parliament for Malindi Constituency.
Cabinet Secretary Defense – Hon. Aden Balle Duale
Until his appointment to cabinet, Hon. Aden Duale was serving his fourth term as the member of parliament Garissa Township constituency.
Cabinet Secretary Water and Sanitation – Alice Wahome
Alice Wahome is the Member Of Parliament Kandara Constituency.
Cabinet Secretary Foreign Affairs and Diaspora Affairs – Dr. Alfred Mutua
Dr. Alfred Mutua is the party leader Maendeleo Chap Chap Party, a member of the Kenya Kwanza Alliance.
Cabinet Secretary Trade, Investment & Industry – Moses Kuria
Moses Kuria is the party leader of Chama Cha Kazi, a member of the ruling Kenya Kwanza Alliance.
Cabinet Secretary East Africa Affairs – Rebecca Miano
Rebecca Miano, is a lawyer who has, since November 2017, been the managing director and chief executive officer of KenGen.
Cabinet Secretary Roads, Transport & Public Works – Hon. Onesmus Kipchumba Murkomen
Following his appointment to cabinet, Hon. Onesmus Kipchumba Murkomen is set to resign as Elgeyo Marakwet senator.
Cabinet Secretary Environment – Roselinda Soipan Tuya
Roselinda Soipan Tuya is a former Women Representative Narok County. Hon. Soipan holds a Degree in Law from the University of Nairobi (2002) and a Masters of Law (LLM) in International Sustainable Development from the University of Washington, USA (2010).
Cabinet Secretary Cooperatives & MSME Development – Simon Chelgui
Simon Chelgui survives the axe having served President Uhuru Kenyatta in cabinet. Chelugui has served as CS for Water, Sanitation, and Irrigation (2017 – October 2021) and CS Labour from October 2021.
Cabinet Secretary Lands Housing and Urban – Zecharia Mwangi Njeru
Cabinet Secretary Tourism, Wildlife, Heritage – Peninah Malonza
Dr Peninah Malonza is a former Deputy Governor Kitui County.
Cabinet Secretary Agriculture & Livestock Development – Hon. Franklin Mithika Linturi
Hon. Franklin Mithika Linturi is the immediate former senator of Meru county. He contested for Meru governor in 2022, but lost to independent candidate Kagwira Mwangaza.
Cabinet Secretary Health – Susan Nakhumicha Wafula
Susan Nakhumicha Wafula is a former MEDS executive and contested for the Trans Nzoia Woman Representative seat in the 2002 elections. Dr Susan Nakhumicha Wafula holds a PhD in Business Management, Logistics & Supply Chain, and was since 2017, the Head of Supply Chain at UCSF Institute for Global Health Sciences .
Cabinet Secretary Information, Communication and Digital Economy – Eliud Owalo
Elius Owalo is a management and strategy guru. He’s a former campaign manager for Raila Odinga who ditched ODM to join Musalia Mudavadi’s Amani National Congress (ANC) in 2019; a party which he used to contest for the Kibra constituency parliamentary by-election of November 7, 2019, but lost to the immediate former MP
Cabinet Secretary Education – Hon. Ezekiel Machogu
Ezekiel Machogu is former Member of Parliament, Nyaribari Masaba Constituency (2017 – 2022).
Cabinet Secretary Minister of Energy & Petroleum – Davis Chirchir
Davis Chirchir returns as Minister of Energy and Petroleum. Davis Chirchir had served in the same docket in President Uhuru’s first cabinet before being fired.
Cabinet Secretary Youth Affairs, Sports and Arts – Hon. Ababu Namwamba
Hon. Ababu Namwamba returns to a docket that he’s held before.
Cabinet Secretary Mining, Blue Economy & Maritime Affairs – Salim Mvurya
Salim Mvurya is the former immediate former governor of Kwale county. He served two terms s ( 2013-2017; 2017-2022).
Cabinet Secretary Labor & Social Protection – Florence Bore
Florence Bore served as Women Representative Kericho County.
Other cabinet level appointees are:
Advisor To The President Gender and Women’s Rights – Harriet Chiggai
Harriet Chiggai is a lawyer who served in ANC party secretariat.
Advisor To The President National Security – Amb. Monica Juma
Amb. Monica Juma served in the last cabinet as cabinet secretary holding different portfolios. She first served the Uhuru administration as Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs (2016-2018); then Cabinet Secretary Foreign Affairs (February 2018 to January 2020); then CS Ministry of Defence (January 2020 to October 2021); her last appointment before her current appointment was as Energy and Petroleum CS.
Secretary to Cabinet – Mercy Wanjau
Mercy Wanjau is former acting Director General Communications Authority of Kenya has been nominated to be Kenya’s 2nd Secretary to the Cabinet. She, like the other nominees, will have to navigate parliament vetting and approval.
Attorney General – Hon. Justin Biden Muturi
Justin Muturi is the party leader of Democratic Party (DP), a member of the Kenya Kwanza coalition.
Wishing you Godspeed as you serve the nation abami and kamabongobongo.