Appointment of Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i as Chairman of powerful National Development Implementation and Communication Cabinet Committee portends huge political implications in the contemporary politics of the country.
Through an Executive order, President Uhuru Kenyatta elevated Matiang'i to the position and entrusted him with roles among others, supervising, guiding, monitoring and communicating progress on all government projects to him.
And NASA Chief Executive Officer Norman Magaya says the move could be the beginning of the end of Deputy President William Ruto, whose relationship with State House mandarins seems to be deteriorating.
"Executive order No. 1 of 2019 portends huge political implications.The beginning of the end of number two (Ruto)," Magaya, close confidant of Raila Odinga wrote on Twitter.
Previously, DP Ruto supervised, monitored and reported progress of government projects to the president but the privilege seems to have been deprived from him in favour of Dr Matiang'i.
Last year, Ruto publicly dismissed his critics over his trips across the country, arguing that his responsibility as DP includes monitoring government projects.
"What's the work of the DP? My work is holding brief for the president and this is what I am exactly doing. Moving across the country to monitor progress of what we are doing," Ruto had said.
Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich will deputise Matiang'i while all ministers will be part of the Secretariat. AG Kihara Kariuki and Head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua will also be part of the team.
A source had confided that ODM leader Raila Odinga played a critical role in the appointment of Matiang'i. Ruto's team is yet to issue a statement but Elgeyo-Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen on Tuesday sarcastically lauded the move.
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