A week after the cabinet reshuffle by President William Ruto in his Kenya Kwanza administration where several roles were re-assigned, the Executive Office of the President released a memo detailing the new physical office locations for the respective ministries and state departments.
The memo, signed by Head of Public Service Felix Koskei, however brought about intriguing developments and potential conflicts.
The Prime Cabinet Secretary’s New Office
According to the memo, the now-expanded Prime Cabinet Secretary position, which includes the Foreign and Diaspora Affairs docket, led by Musalia Mudavadi, is set to be located at the old Treasury building on Harambee Avenue.
It’s essential to note that this is not the building that houses the National Treasury and Economic Planning Ministry.
Meanwhile, the Public Service, Performance, and Delivery Management docket, headed by Moses Kuria, is expected to take up residence at the Kenya Railways building on Haile Selassie Avenue.
However, this decision has not been without controversy.
Mudavadi’s office vehemently disputes this allocation and has invited President Ruto to address this simmering conflict.
Executive Order No. 1 and the Allocation of Offices
In response to the dispute, Kibisu Kabatesi, responsible for public communication at the Prime Cabinet Secretary’s office, emphasized that no public servant other than the president can allocate ministerial locations or portfolios.
Such an action, according to Kabatesi, is misguided and tantamount to usurping the function that belongs to the head of state.
Kabatesi further noted that unless Executive Order No. 1, which outlines the functions of cabinet secretaries, is vacated by the president, the status quo would remain.
He revealed that Mudavadi had been temporarily using the Treasury building due to ongoing renovations at the Railways headquarters where he had initially been put up.
Kabatesi firmly dismissed the assertions that Mudavadi’s office should have been at the Treasury building, which contradicts Koskei’s statement.
Statements from the Concerned Parties
In response, CS Kuria took to social media to downplay media reports over the conflict.
In a tweet on X, he clarified the roles of the State Department of Performance and Delivery Management, which is under his ministry as per Executive Order No. 1.
“Contrary to media reports today, there is absolutely no tug of war between myself and my senior and close friend Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi. The PCS will continue operating from Railways Headquarters, and myself from Harambee House,” he wrote.
“Principal Secretary for Performance and Delivery Management Veronicah Nduva will also be based at Harambee House to oversee Government Delivery Services, Performance Contracting, State Corporations Advisory Committee, and Inspectorate of State Corporations as per Executive Order Number 1 of 2023.”
Unanswered Questions
In the recent cabinet reshuffle, President Ruto moved the performance and delivery management function from Mudavadi and placed it under CS Kuria in the public service department.
The key questions that linger are: Was the decision to allocate the state officers’ offices consultative? Would Koskei issue such communication without President Ruto’s approval?
Will the president intervene in the matter to avoid frustrating service delivery, especially when junior officers may find themselves caught in the crossfire of supremacy wars between their bosses?
Only time will tell.
