There is growing unease in government after it emerged President William Ruto will make far-reaching changes that will affect Principal Secretaries.
The radical changes across ministries are expected to see new faces appointed to the executive and others shuffled or fired.
A senior Kenya Kwanza politician, with knowledge of the plans, told the Star Ruto will instigate the changes once Cabinet is in place.
“There is no doubt that the President will be making changes in the cadre of Principal Secretaries after the Cabinet is sworn into office," the politician said.
In the looming reshuffle of PSs, the politician hinted at the number of officials holding the positions being reduced from 55 to just under 40.
Allies of Opposition chief Raila Odinga are said to be among those who will be nominated by the President for appointment.
It is however not clear how many positions the ODM leader will get in the new appointments.
The alignments are meant to address the new political reality that stirred countrywide protests by Generation Zoomers and Millennials from mid June.
The changes were not only necessary to respond to some of the demands by Gen Zs, but also to address inefficiency bottlenecks.
“It is not a question of if but when the PSs will have a date with the president," the UDA MP said.
There are also reports that some of opposition leader Raila Odinga's allies will find their way into government as PSs - to make the government more inclusive.
While Raila has denied that his ODM party has entered into a coalition agreement with Ruto, the nomination of his key lieutenants as CSs is proof that a government of national unity has been agreed.
Ruto named four allies of the former Prime Minister including ODM’s deputy leaders: Wycliffe Oparanya and Hassan Joho.
National Assembly Minority leader Opiyo Wandayi and nominated MP John Mbadi, the ODM chairman, were also nominated to Cabinet.
It has now emerged that this inclusion of opposition bigwigs into the Cabinet will be followed by sweeping changes that will see a couple of PSs replaced.
The PSs targeted include those that have for the last 20 months been cautioned about their performance, or are seen as being out of touch with their dockets.
The President has previously scolded PSs, saying some have no clue about their jobs.
“I call many PSs and ask them what is going on here and they have no clue and this is your department that is the job that you have," Ruto said on August 1, 2023, when he witnessed the signing of performance contracts for CSs and PSs at the State House.
“You are not a messenger, you are not a security person, you are not photographer, you are not a watchman.”
The changes will also ensure regional and ethnic balance following an uproar that the current administration favours some communities.
After a session with the youthful protesters on X, Ruto promised to reorganise the government.
On July 11, the head of state said he would announce further reforms to his administration after dismising his Cabinet, signalling more drastic changes.
He needed a lean and efficient government.
Ruto appointed 51 PSs, seven more than the 44 his predecessor Uhuru Kenyatta hired.
While the Constitution caps CSs at 22, it is silent on the number of PSs the President can appoint.
This is not the first shake-up experienced in Ruto's government, that is barely two years old.
In May 2023, the President reassigned seven Principal Secretaries in a reshuffle following the sacking of Public Health PS Josephine Mburu.
Then Correctional Services PS Mary Muthoni was named in her place.
Ether Ngero took over the Performance Management docket in the Prime Cabinet Secretary’s Office.
Ruto also moved, then Medical Services PS Peter Tum, to the Sports portfolio.
Livestock PS Harry Kimtai took Tum’s slot at Afya House relinquishing his docket to Jonathan Mueke, who served as Sports PS.
Forestry PS Ephantus Kimani swapped slots with Irrigation’s Gitonga Mugambi.