In a significant move, President William Ruto has reshuffled his Cabinet, reassigning Hon. Aden Duale from the Defense Ministry to the Environment Ministry. The announcement was made by Speaker Moses Wetang’ula in Parliament on Tuesday afternoon. This change is part of a broader set of adjustments to Ruto’s Cabinet, initially unveiled the previous Friday.
Hon. Soipan Tuya has been appointed to take over the Defense Ministry from Duale. The transition is seen as a strategic shift in the administration’s approach to addressing key national issues.
Duale expressed his gratitude to President Ruto for the new assignment. In a public statement, he said, “I am grateful to President @WilliamsRuto for reassigning me from the Defense Ministry to the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, and Forestry. I look forward to serving in my new portfolio and ensuring focus is on sustainable environmental management, combating climate change, and promoting reforestation and conservation efforts.”
He added a reflective note, quoting the Quran: “Indeed, ‘And it may be that you dislike a thing which is good for you and that you like a thing which is bad for you. Allah knows, but you do not know.’ – Quran 2:216.”
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The Dismissal of Cabinet Secretaries
This reshuffle follows a decisive address by President Ruto on July 11, 2024, where he announced the dismissal of several Cabinet Secretaries and the Attorney General. The move came in response to public opinion, which labeled the officials as incompetent.
Ruto invoked his constitutional powers under Article 152(1) and 152(5)(b), along with Section 12 of the Office of the Attorney-General Act, to enact the dismissals. “I have decided to dismiss with immediate effect all the Cabinet Secretaries and the Attorney-General from the Cabinet of the Republic of Kenya except the Prime Cabinet Secretary and the Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs,” stated Ruto.
Despite these changes, all new Cabinet nominees, including those retained from the previous Cabinet, will be subjected to a vetting process. This move underscores Ruto’s commitment to ensuring his administration is staffed with competent and effective leaders.
These changes reflect President Ruto’s dynamic approach to governance and his responsiveness to the needs and opinions of the Kenyan people. The reassignments are expected to bring fresh perspectives to key ministries, particularly in areas such as environmental conservation and national defense.