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In August last year, Mucheru brazenly attacked Ruto for manipulating and hoodwinking the church and youth – hustlers – for political gains.
- However, during his acceptance speech, the president-elect said he would not revenge on those who did wrong to him.
Image: CYRUS OMBATI
The fate of top civil servants influential in President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Jubilee government now hangs in the balance as William Ruto’s presidency looms.
The outgoing deputy president was on Monday declared president-elect and is set to be sworn-in should there be no petition to challenge his win. But Azimio presidential candidate Raila Odinga on Tuesday indicated he would move to court after rejecting the results.
The officials include powerful Cabinet secretaries, principal secretaries, heads of parastatal and other key government agencies.
Some of them have not been seeing eye to eye with the DP, and have publicly criticised him in the wake of his fallout with President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Ruto may decide to offload them or retain them in his administration, if he is finally sworn in to take up the mantle from Uhuru.
The outgoing DP will form his Cabinet and appoint principal secretaries to various state departments to realise his transformation agenda.
The law provides that the president can appoint up to a maximum of 22 Cabinet secretaries.
Top on the list are Interior CS Fred Matiang'i and his PS Karanja Kibicho.
The two have been taking on the DP, often accusing him of lying to the public for political favours during campaigns.
“To be very honest, I don’t like commenting on some of these petty political things because some people lie all the time like it is a career," Matiang'i said of Ruto a few weeks ago.
This happened just a day after the UDA boss claimed during the presidential debate that police reservists were withdrawn from the bandit-infested Kerio Valley to politically fight him.
Other top civil servants who have been critical of the DP and their fate now lie with the DP are CSs Joe Mucheru (ICT), Eugene Wamalwa (Defence) and Peter Munya (Agriculture).
In August last year, Mucheru brazenly attacked Ruto for manipulating and hoodwinking the church and youth – hustlers – for political gains.
“These Bible-waving politicians have especially targeted the youth because they think – wrongly – that the youth are gullible and easy to manipulate,” the CS said.
Last month, Wamalwa was involved in a public altercation with Ruto.
Wamalwa had claimed the DP was not fit for leadership because of his anger. He narrated how Ruto almost slapped him at an event.
However, Ruto hit back, saying "in our community, we do not slap women", an utterance that triggered outrage among Wamalwa’s supporters and the Azimio fraternity.
Though politically silent, the remaining CSs are also facing the exit door, unless the outgoing DP opts to incorporate them into his administration.
They include Amina Mohamed (Sports), George Magoha (Education), Margaret Kobia (Public Service), Mutahi Kagwe (Health), Rachel Omamo (Foreign Affairs), Monica Juma (Energy) and Najib Balala (Tourism).
Soon after Ruto was declared president-elect, CS Balala congratulated him in what was largely seen as an early realignment to secure an appointment in his administration.
Other top officials holding their breath are the head of public service Joseph Kinyua, State House comptroller Kinuthia Mbugua and Attorney General Paul Kihara.
Directorate of Criminal Investigations chief George Kinoti and his boss, Inspector of General of Police Hillary Mutyambai have also been at loggerheads with the DP, and may be pushed out of office.
Mutyambai, however, enjoys the security of tenure.
However, during his acceptance speech, the president-elect said he would not revenge on those who did wrong to him.
“To those who have done many things against us, I want to tell them there is nothing to fear. There will be no vengeance. We do not have the luxury to look back. We are looking into the future,” he said.
Ruto has often accused Mutyambai and the DCI of being used to fight political wars.
At one time, he termed Mutyambai as the "most incompetent" IG.
“We doubt the command. We have a serious problem with the command of the police. We have the most incompetent Inspector General of Police,” he said during a meeting with election missions in June.
(edited by Amol Awuor)