In a move to create an all-inclusive government, Kenyan President William Ruto has nominated 10 new Cabinet secretaries, including four members from the main opposition party, the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM). This effort aims to bridge political divides and foster unity within the country.

John Mbadi, ODM Chairman, has been nominated to head the National Treasury. The other ODM nominees are Salim Mvurya for the Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry; former Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho for the Ministry of Mining and Blue Economy; and Wycliffe Oparanya for the Ministry of Cooperatives and MSME Development.

Rebecca Miano, previously considered for the Attorney-General position, has now been nominated to lead the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife. Opiyo Wandayi, the National Assembly Minority Leader, is nominated for the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum.

Immediate former Attorney-General Justin Muturi is set to lead the Public Service Ministry, while Stella Lagat is nominated for the Ministry of Gender, Culture, Arts, and Heritage.

Alfred Mutua has been nominated for the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, and Kipchumba Murkomen for the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Creative Economy, and Sports.

President Ruto has so far nominated 20 out of 22 Cabinet secretaries and is expected to announce the remaining nominees soon. All nominations will be subject to approval by the National Assembly before official appointments are made.

Ruto emphasized the importance of the Cabinet in driving Kenya’s transformation agenda, focusing on efficient public services, employment, wealth creation, universal health coverage, equitable education, and affordable housing.

The president aims to mobilize resources to transform Kenya into a middle-income society, providing reliable clean water, and last-mile electricity connectivity, and creating more business and employment opportunities for the youth.

The restructuring of the Cabinet comes after the president dissolved his 22-member Cabinet on July 11 following three weeks of anti-government protests over the Finance Bill 2024, which proposed new taxes to raise an additional 346.7 billion shillings (approximately 2.7 billion U.S. dollars). The protests in June and July resulted in over 50 deaths and more than 400 injuries, as reported by the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights.

On July 19, President Ruto announced the first group of Cabinet secretaries to various ministries. The new Cabinet is expected to play a crucial role in implementing the president’s ambitious development goals and addressing the pressing needs of the Kenyan people.