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In President William Ruto’s most recent reshuffle of Cabinet and senior executive positions, three prominent figures have emerged as the biggest casualties.
Outgoing ICT Cabinet Secretary Margaret Nyambura Ndung’u, outgoing Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Andrew Karanja, and former Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) Chairperson Anthony Mwaura were notably affected by the list of new appointments.
Margaret Nyambura Ndung’u
Margaret Nyambura Ndung’u, who served as Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communications, and Technology, played a significant role in spearheading Kenya's digital economy agenda.
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On August 8, 2024, She was sworn in after being confirmed by the National Assembly’s Committee on Appointments.
Ms Ndung’u has now been nominated as the High Commissioner to Ghana, a move many interpret as a diplomatic relegation.
Critics argue that her exclusion from the Cabinet sidelines her from power.
READ: Murkomen gets Interior CS docket in Ruto's newest Cabinet reshuffle
Andrew Karanja
Andrew Karanja served as the Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development until his recent removal in December 2024.
Dr Karanja, who holds a PhD in development economics and policy, has over 36 years of experience in agriculture, rural development, and finance.
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His career began as an extension officer at the Ministry of Agriculture, where he later served as a Planning Officer. He also worked at the Coffee Research Foundation (CRF) and the World Bank, focusing on agricultural economics and policy analysis
The outgoing CS has now been reassigned as Kenya’s Ambassador to Brazil.
While the position maintains his involvement in representing Kenya, it signals a shift away from his pivotal role in domestic agricultural policy.
Anthony Mwaura
Outgoing KRA Chairperson Anthony Mwaura is also among the biggest casualties in the recent appointments.
Mwaura's appointment to KRA was contentious from the outset. He was facing multiple corruption and economic crime charges at the time, which led to a legal challenge by Dr. Benjamin Gikenyi, a surgeon from Nakuru.
Gikenyi argued that Mwaura's appointment was illegal due to these ongoing charges, asserting that it violated constitutional principles regarding integrity in public office.
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On July 15, 2024, the High Court ruled in favour of Gikenyi, declaring Mwaura's appointment null and void.
Justice Francis Gikonyo said that appointing someone with pending corruption charges undermines the integrity expected of public officials and sets a dangerous precedent for future appointments.
Although Mwaura was acquitted of some charges earlier in February 2024, the court maintained that his initial appointment was flawed due to procedural irregularities
He has now been reassigned to the Kenya Rural Roads Board.