This archive report was first published on 10 July 2019.
Published on July 10, 2019, the current state of Kenya's Cabinet is a cause for concern. The government is in disarray, with divided loyalties and a wide chasm between its members.
Recent sensational claims of a plot to kill Deputy President William Ruto have sparked accusations and counter-accusations, highlighting the government's paralysis. The situation has been exacerbated by the lack of discipline and loyalty within the Jubilee Party.
Interior Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho has dismissed the claims as baseless, while Cabinet Secretaries like Peter Munya have responded forcefully, denying any involvement in the alleged assassination plot.
Top Jubilee politicians have been trading barbs, signaling a lack of unity within the party. This division may soon manifest in Parliament, with potentially adverse consequences for government business.
While difference of opinion is encouraged in a democracy, defiance and rebellion are not. The government is being forced into a dangerous corner, where it cannot execute plans as envisaged.
President Kenyatta's 'Big Four Agenda' is ambitious, but it cannot work if the Cabinet is at odds with itself. Ultimately, the citizens suffer, paying taxes for services they never receive from a government in disarray.
The root cause of this infighting is succession politics. Deputy President Ruto is seeking to ascend to power in 2022, and his campaign is already causing tensions and undermining development.
President Kenyatta must create order in his government to ensure the country's progress.
