President Ruto Appoints Two Former Governors as Ministers

President William Ruto has nominated two former Governors allied to former president Uhuru Kenyatta in his broad based government.

Former Kiambu and Nakuru county Governors William Kabogo and Lee Kinyanjui respectively were nominated to join the cabinet on December 19th, 2024.

The duo join two other former Governors Ali Hasan Joho (Mombasa) and his Kakamega counterpart Wycliffe Ambetsa Oparanya who joined the broad based government from the the opposition Orange Democratic Movement who were earlier appointed by President Ruto.

The other nominee other than from Kinyanjui and Kabogo is Mutahi Kagwe who once served as Nyeri Senator and Health minister during Uhuru’s administration.

1. Mutahi Kagwe has been appointed as Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development. Kagwe brings a wealth of experience to this critical sector, which plays a central role in Kenya’s economy.
2. Former Nakuru Governor Lee Kinyanjui will now head the Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry, a strategic portfolio focused on boosting Kenya’s investment climate and trade relations.
3. Former Kiambu Governor and Council of Governors Whip William Kabogo has been appointed Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Communications and The Digital Economy, taking charge of Kenya’s digital transformation agenda.

Re-assignments of current CSs

In addition to the new appointments, the reshuffle also includes the following re-assignments within the Cabinet:

1. Salim Mvurya has been moved to the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports.

Mvurya currently serves as the CS for Investments, Trade and Industry.

This realignment positions Mvurya to take forward Ruto’s vision for youth empowerment and sports development.

2. Kipchumba Murkomen has been transferred from the Ministry of Sports to the Ministry of Interior, a move seen as a significant political shift that strengthens the Interior docket under his leadership and grants him greater authority within the government.