President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Cabinet has discreetly taken sides ahead of his exit from office.
Tellingly, they have warmed to DP Ruto’s hustler nation or cast lots with Raila Odinga, the presumed deep state project.
Some CS’s are playing double agent, supporting both discreetly to avoid what befell former CS Mwangi Kiunjuri.
But the intelligentsia community has profiled them to the letter and furnished the head of state with evidence of their involvement in politics.
It is natural during regime change over for top civil servants to change alliances with an eye to appointments in the next Government.
During the 2002 succesion, then President Moi Vice President George Saitoti, Cabinet Ministers Raila Odinga and Kalonzo Musyoka abandoned the President for Mwai Kibaki.
Conversely, Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka and Prime Minister Raila Odinga abandoned Kibaki and went politicking.
It is Uhuru’s turn to taste the bitter medicine of betrayal.
The Political Machines
Interior CS Fred Matiang’i, his Agriculture counterpart Peter Munya, Treasury’s Ukur Yatani, and Devolution’s Eugene Wamalwa are all pulling political punches.
Mutahi Kagwe (Health), Keriako Tobiko (Environment), Joe Mucheru (ICT), John Munyes (Petroleum), and Raphael Tuju (Cabinet Secretary without Portfolio) are among the others.
Mr. Yatani and Mr. Wamalwa are busy constructing a united northern and western Kenya, respectively, while Dr. Matiang’i is at the forefront of uniting the Gusii community ahead of next year’s poll.
Mr. Tobiko and Mr. Munyes have been leading efforts in the Rift Valley to have the Maa and Turkana communities vote.
Mr. Munya, Mr. Kagwe, and Mr. Mucheru are significant players in Mt Kenya’s unity effort, with Mr. Kagwe, the ex-Nyeri senator, being mentioned as a prospective running mate for many top contenders.
The Fence-sitters
These cabinet secretaries have had a rather cautious approach to politics but the spirited campaign to up their CVs up the government echelons.
As such, these appointees want to gain favor amongst rivaling factions.
Education CS George Magoha, James Macharia (Transport), Farida Karoney (Lands), Betty Maina (Trade), Raychelle Omamo (Foreign Affairs), Adan Mohamed (EAC) and Najib Balala (Tourism) all fit into this profile.
Their contributions to the well being of the country despite political influences have greatly been felt in the economy.
The Timid
Cabinet CSs in this profile, rarely exhibit their claws and one would barely feel their influence in the political waters. They avoid media glare despite massive resources poured on their desks.
As such, Public Service and Gender Affairs CS Margaret Kobia would lead this pack; flanked by Cicily Kariuki (Water), Amina Mohamed (Sports).
In a nutshell, the constitution of Kenya detailed the merits of an apolitical appointee which included a sheer ruthless focus on delivering government objectives.
President Kenyatta’s vow in 2013 that he and the DP would be the only politicians in the Cabinet was broken when he chose Charity Ngilu as Water Minister and Najib Balala as Mining Minister.
Before bringing in Mr Kagwe last year, he recruited Mr Munya, Mr Munyes, Mr Yatani, and Mr Tuju to the Cabinet in 2017 — all career politicians.
