This archive report was first published on 14 January 2020.
On January 14, 2020, President Uhuru Kenyatta announced a significant Cabinet shake-up, signaling his intention to revamp his administration and address the country's pressing issues. As he serves his second and final term, which ends in 2022, time is of the essence.
The economy is struggling, and service delivery is appalling. Politics has taken center stage, with the country being egged on to early and potentially rancorous campaigns. This is the reason the reshuffle was inevitable, as the President requires the right people in the right positions to deliver on the government's agenda.
President Kenyatta outlined three core priority areas for the year: economic rejuvenation and sustainability, revitalizing agriculture, and renewing the war on corruption. The economy is in dire need of fixing, with several listed companies reporting massive losses, unemployment soaring, and prices rising astronomically. Infrastructure development has stagnated, and service delivery has deteriorated.
Secondly, the President pledged to revitalize agriculture, particularly cash crops such as tea and coffee. The sector is plagued by structural, legal, and logistical hindrances that make it a vain enterprise. Radical measures are required to turn around the sector and address the challenges faced by farmers.
Thirdly, the President renewed his pledge to sustain the war on corruption. The administration has been criticized for being the most corrupt ever, and erasing this tag requires decisive, ruthless, and conclusive action. Several top officials have been arrested and charged in court, but hardly convicted. The Judiciary must act quickly on corruption.
Lastly, the President must cool down political temperatures. The Building Bridges Initiative has turned out to be a new battlefield, and acrimonious debate is not conducive to the country's progress. The impact of the shake-up will only be felt if it translates into an improved economy and better services.
