{UAH} Pojim/WBK: Uhuru Delays CSs Reshuffle Over Ruto | The Star

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Uhuru Delays CSs Reshuffle Over Ruto

Uhuru Delays CSs Reshuffle Over Ruto

President Uhuru Kenyatta addressing the Media at State House. Photo/File

BY JAMES MBAKA

September 21, 2015

It was a day of crisis at State House as DP William Ruto yesterday dramatically snubbed a media event and live nationwide address by President Uhuru Kenyatta.

The planned 9am speech had been expected to cover a long-awaited Cabinet reshuffle, changes in government and the teachers' strike.

That event collapsed.

But by 8pm, Ruto was present when Uhuru delivered a State of the Nation address about the teachers' strike.

This Uhuruto rift and standoff in government threatens the future of the delicately balanced Jubilee coalition at a time when tension is high over striking teachers and planned opposition rallies calling for Uhuru's impeachment.

The immediate issue yesterday was President Uhuru's refusal to reinstate Ruto's suspended allies to the Cabinet after they were cleared of graft allegations. Uhuru's team believes their return could dent the war on corruption, sources told the Star. Ruto's list of other appointees was altered.

The CSs are Felix Koskei (Agriculture) and Davis Chirchir (Energy), who were on the List of Shame.

But cracks have already appeared between TNA and URP, with Ruto's allies saying the President's team has abandoned him to face the ICC along.

Yesterday morning Ruto did not appear as scheduled for a media briefing at State House and nationwide address at 9am by Uhuru. KBC had been waiting since 7.30am.

The two were to unveil a new Cabinet and government changes before Uhuru leaves for New York today to attend the General Assembly.

But Ruto failed to show up for the event, unless his suspended allies were reinstated.

While the President, his staff and KBC were waiting, the DP instead attended a church service at Karen and then returned to his residence for a meeting with political and opinion leaders and professionals.

"We are saddened by the change of events. The DP is shocked but he remains strong and optimistic at a time like this," a legislator close to Ruto told the Star on phone.

A Cabinet reshuffle has been n the offing for months.

The Star exclusively reported on Friday the President wanted to make Cabinet changes before he goes to New York today.

Uhuru and Ruto are said to have differed sharply over the future of suspended CSs, appointees to state jobs and a proposal to break up the powerful ministry of Devolution and Planning under Anne Waiguru.

The President wants CIC chairman Charles Nyachae, son of veteran Gusii politician Simeon Nyachae, to take charge of Devolution.

Ruto was also reportedly angered at changes to his list of allies he wanted appointed as Principal Secretaries, ambassadors, heads of parastatals and board members in government agencies.

The DP submitted his list to State House two weeks ago for review before the anticipated joint announcement

Ruto had insisted Koskei and Chirchir be reinstated.

Ruto's wing insisted that if the two were dropped from the Cabinet, then Waiguru had to be suspended to allow for investigations into alleged fraud and theft at the National Youth Service.

The DP has been under pressure from his Rift Valley backyard to reinstate the two.

The fractures come at a time of growing concern among URP leaders who say Jubilee has abandoned Ruto to face the ICC alone, now that charges against Uhuru have been dropped.

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Uhuru Delays CSs Reshuffle Over Ruto | The Star

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