Ruto’s Cabinet Circus. More Faces, Same Old Problems!

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By Franklin Mrata - Student, KCAU 

Photo: President William Ruto addressing the nation 

On March 20, 2025, President William Ruto announced new changes in his cabinet, hinting at further adjustments in due time. This marks his third cabinet reshuffle since he was sworn in on September 13, 2022. With most of these changes tied to new political alliances, one is pressed to wonder,  What exactly is His Excellency seeking?

Be it new faces in the team, familiar ones, or old faces in different roles, the Frenchman Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr said it best: The more things change, the more they stay the same. Because despite all the reassignments, the lamentations remain unchanged.

Take, for instance, the Ministry of Health, where leadership adjustments have yet to bring tangible solutions. The rollout of the Social Health Authority (SHA) continues to face hurdles, leaving many Kenyans questioning whether cabinet reshufles will yield any real impact.

President William Ruto from a cabinet meeting with his first cabinet at State House Nairobi.


Similarly, a curious trend has emerged, former opposition figures now defending the very policies they once fought against. A glaring example is the new Cabinet Secretary for Cooperatives and MSMEs Development, Wycliffe Oparanya.

Oparanya, a former key figure in the opposition, vehemently opposed the Hustler Fund during his time outside government. The former Kakamega governor went as far as urging Kenyans at opposition rallies not to repay the loans, arguing that the fund was exploitative and unsustainable. Now, as the CS in charge of the same fund, he finds himself in the awkward position of defending it. What changed, his convictions, or simply the seat he occupies?




If you asked the President, he would likely say that these changes aim to create national unity and introduce fresh ideas into government. Yet, every new appointee seems to be inducted into the same system, selling the same narratives their predecessors struggled to push.

This begs the question: Are these reshuffles truly about governance, or mere political survival?

It is troubling that the Cabinet has twice been used as a bargaining tool, with allies of Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Retired President Uhuru Kenyatta securing multiple CS and PS slots. These appointments appear more about securing political goodwill than appointing the most qualified individuals.

We are too deep into this presidential term to still be in a state of trial and error. If reshuffles were the solution, wouldn’t we have seen progress by now?  The cries of Kenyans are loud, the issues are obvious, and the only real change needed is leadership that prioritizes competence over political expediency.


Franklin Mrata is a Journalism and Digital Media student at KCA University... mratafranklin@gmail.com

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