Raila wants 10 PSs as Ruto plans shuffle

Principal Secretaries appointed by President William Ruto in November 2022 are facing a significant upheaval as the President prepares to accommodate new political allies and lay the groundwork for the 2027 election.

With half of Kenya Kwanza’s term completed, there is growing pressure to reorganize the current crop of 51 PSs to improve government efficiency and responsiveness.

The Public Service Commission recently published a notice indicating that “a vacancy has arisen within the ranks of Principal Secretaries.”

However, insiders say the real story is much more complex.

The notice states that all applications must be submitted by December 4, and that the names of applicants and shortlisted candidates will be published after the application period closes.

Despite the PSC’s wording—implying a single vacancy—those eager for these positions understand that applying is essential to be considered.

Sources close to the government have revealed that the impending reshuffle will impact all state departments, and the number of available positions could be reduced by up to 15.

This reduction is said to be influenced by recent protests led by Gen Zs, who have called for greater accountability and representation in government.

If these rumors hold true, only 36 positions will be available, intensifying competition among candidates.

As the reconstitution of the Cabinet concludes, attention is shifting to the 51 PSs, some of whom may be merged into new roles.

A government insider remarked, “The PSC cannot advertise for just one PS post without the president’s approval. The impending purge is evident.”

Amidst this uncertainty, some current PSs may have smoother paths to retention due to political connections or performance metrics.

The current lineup includes high-profile individuals such as Raymond Omollo (Interior), Kori Sing’oei (Foreign Affairs) and Chris Kiptoo (Treasury), among others.

However, the looming question remains: who among these technocrats will survive the impending removal? The backdrop of this upheaval includes significant political developments.

With recent changes that saw allies of opposition leader Raila Odinga take on prominent roles in the Cabinet, many of the existing PSs are now perceived as vulnerable.

Political analysts say the fallout from these alignments could lead to substantial losses for those associated with Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

Moreover, the influence of former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s allies is also in play, with speculation that Ruto may allocate some positions to those aligned with Kenyatta.

Simultaneously, Raila ’s camp has reportedly sought 10 slots, with expectations that they might secure five or six, further complicating the landscape for the current PSs.

Concerns have also emerged regarding regional representation. In the previous round of appointments in 2022, more than 9,000 Kenyans applied for PS positions, with the PSC narrowing the field down to 477 candidates before Ruto selected the final 51.