- I interact with many of you and I ask you questions on projects and I find that most of you don’t even know what is going on in your ministries or departments. You have very scanty information. The moment I know more than you in your ministry then…something is very wrong because by constitution, you are supposed to advise me- President Ruto
“I interact with many of you, and I ask you questions on projects, and I find that most of you don’t even know what is going on in your ministries or departments. You have very scanty information. The moment I know more than you in your ministry, then…something is very wrong because you are supposed to advise me by the constitution.”
These were President William Ruto’s statements on his cabinet meeting this morning, Tuesday, August 1, 2023, which was coupled with anomalies that saw his senior cabinets showing up late for the meeting the likes of Hon Moses Kuria CS Industrialization, Trade & Enterprise Development and Prof.Kithure Kindiki CS—Interior and Coordination of National Government.
The Cabinet is a prominent executive wing that frequently holds meetings with the President and other members to update on the government's state of affairs.
The Constitution states that the Cabinet Ministers are accountable to the President. It also includes how they use the legal powers vested in them and their performance in the government.
While at the meeting, the President expressed his disappointment with how the cabinet ministers have been handling matters about the country's development in their respective ministries.
In a statement that sounded like a warning sign and probably a red flag to the ministers, the President stated that most ministers have no idea what is happening in their ministries.
“I interact with many of you, and I ask you questions on projects, and I find that most of you don’t even know what is going on in your ministries or departments.”
According to the Constitution of Kenya 2010, the President can reassign and dismiss a Cabinet Secretary after they assume office.
Also, a Member of Parliament (MP), supported by at least a quarter of all parliamentarians, can propose a motion for the President to dismiss a Cabinet Secretary.
They were in a hot mess since it seemed the President was now starting to realize his ministers' incompetence and reluctance to work, and a warning sign was necessary.
“The moment I know more than you in your ministry, then…something is very wrong because you are supposed to advise me by the constitution.”
