The recent elevation of Interior cabinet secretary Dr. Fred Matiang'i to be the head of all government projects and in-charge of delivery of all National Government programmes and projects has caused stir and a readily projected political storm in DP Ruto's camp.
There is no denying that Ruto has been using all that is in Matiang'i's new role to gain political mileage by crisscrossing different parts of the country to launch or supervise governments projects.
He has posed as the President's right-hand man charged with the responsibility of supervising the implementation of government agenda.
In the president's new arrangement, this role is now solely under the chairmanship of the firm and strict Interior CS Fred Matiang'i.
So what has Ruto lost?
1. Privilege.
The deputy president has lost the privilege of launching and supervising development projects in the country as the president's right-hand man. This was one of the stepping stones the DP was using to gain political mileage in various parts of the country he was visiting frequently.
In the new framework, the newly-formed committee will directly report to the president, this has removed Ruto from the equation of the country's development agenda.
All the cabinet secretaries will report to the committee then the committee through its chair reports directly to the president.
2. Political platform.
Being one of the witty politicians, Ruto had taken advantage of the president's big four agenda legacy to drive his own political agenda with a view of building a profile of a development-oriented leader in the run-up to 2022 elections.
By appointing Matiang'i to be in charge of all government developments, Ruto has been left with nothing to boast about.
In 2022, he will have nothing to tell electorates in terms of development.
The whole credit will go to the president and his team. This then will put the president in a good and very influential position to endorse a candidate who will carry on with his agenda.
If Ruto would have been kept out of the equation all along, it will be very unlikely that he gets the president's endorsement.
3. Influence.
The DP has been using his position to influence development projects in different parts of the country particularly those areas that he has been receiving political friends standing in solidarity with his presidential ambitions.
Now that development projects have been channeled and solely left in hands of the Matiang'i-led team under the National Development Implementation and Communication Cabinet Committee, DP will have no influence on what project should be undertaken, where and when?
4. Political power.
This should not be confused with constitution powers. Ruto still enjoys his constitutional powers, however, with the president's new approach in delivering services to Kenyans, Ruto has been sidelined politically.
For instance, it will be difficult for Ruto to influence the decision of the executive given that he is alienated by cabinet secretaries who will now have no business with his office.
Under the new establishment, cabinet secretaries will be reporting to Matiang'i.
Matiang'i, who will be in charge of delivery of all National Government programmes and projects will then report directly to the Head of State. The Deputy president has no role in this setup. This is the slow political "poison" Ruto has been subjected to.
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