President William Ruto is under fresh fire after Tetu MP Geoffrey Wandeto boldly accused him of running two Cabinets.
Speaking on Citizen TV, Wandeto claimed that Ruto’s swelling circle of advisors has created a shadow Cabinet that rivals the official one. His sharp words have stirred political waters and fueled national debate about governance and waste.
As ordinary Kenyans struggle with high taxes and economic hardship, many question whether the president’s moves are about strengthening leadership—or tightening his grip on power.
Is Ruto building a government within a government? Here’s what you need to know.
Why Wandeto Says Ruto Has Two Cabinets
MP Geoffrey Wandeto did not hold back. In a live interview, he slammed the president for what he called a quiet takeover of Cabinet functions by Ruto’s growing team of personal advisors.
According to Wandeto, the size and scope of these advisory roles mirror the tasks usually handled by Cabinet secretaries.
“If you look at the number of advisors and their roles, you can easily conclude that this is a parallel Cabinet,” Wandeto told Citizen TV. “As things stand now, we have technically two Cabinets—the official Cabinet and now the advisors.”
Wandeto painted a grim picture: a president who either does not trust his Cabinet or wants to centralize power in his inner circle. He warned that this approach signals deep mistrust and could cripple the Cabinet’s ability to function effectively.
Even more troubling for Wandeto is the financial burden. He said that with Kenya already choking on high taxes, funding extra advisors is irresponsible.
“This is a very sad state of affairs, and it is coming at a huge cost to the country,” he noted. He urged Parliament to step in and cap the number of presidential advisors through constitutional amendments.
The Growing List of Ruto’s Advisors Raises Eyebrows
The uproar is not without reason. President Ruto’s advisory team has ballooned in the last 10 months. At the start of his term, Ruto had only seven advisors. That number has since doubled to 14, despite Ruto’s earlier promise to cut the number in half. This broken promise has added fuel to the controversy.
Recent appointments have also raised political questions. On April 30, Ruto appointed Prof. Makau Mutua, once a fierce ally of opposition leader Raila Odinga, as Senior Advisor on Constitutional Affairs.
Just days before, Jaoko Oburu Odinga, the son of Siaya Senator Oburu Oginga, was named Special Advisor on Economic Empowerment. Critics are alarmed by what looks like a strategy to bring opposition allies closer while crowding out Ruto’s own Cabinet secretaries. Some see it as political chess; others see it as plain waste.
Here’s a quick look at Ruto’s advisory team:
Prof Makau Mutua
Jaoko Oburu Odinga
Prof Abdi Guliye
Dominic Menjo
Nancy Laiboni
Henry Kinyua
Steven Otieno
David Ndii
Augustine Cheruiyot
Moses Kuria
Mohamed Hassan
Prof Adams Oloo
Joe Ager
Dr Silverstone Okumu
Prof Edward Kisiangani
Harriete Chiggai
Kennedy Ogeto
Each advisor carries a title that sounds official and powerful—yet, many of these roles overlap with the work Cabinet secretaries are supposed to handle.
What Does This Mean for Governance?
The heart of the matter is governance. Kenya’s Constitution caps the number of Cabinet secretaries at 22. This rule aims to keep government lean and efficient. But the president can appoint advisors without such limits, and that’s where critics see a loophole being exploited.
Wandeto’s fear is that too many advisors create confusion and weaken the traditional Cabinet structure. When advisors begin to outshine or override Cabinet secretaries, decision-making can become chaotic. Worse, it can sideline key ministries and stall critical projects.
For many Kenyans, the bigger issue is cost. Each advisor comes with a hefty paycheck, perks, and office budgets. With the economy struggling and taxes rising, the public is frustrated. Wandeto’s call to limit advisor numbers has struck a chord with taxpayers who feel squeezed from every side.
Will Parliament Act on the ‘Ruto Cabinets’ Debate?
The ball now sits in Parliament’s court. Wandeto’s bold proposal to amend the Constitution and cap the number of advisors is gaining attention. But political watchers warn that passing such reforms won’t be easy, especially if the president’s allies resist.
Still, the debate has put the spotlight squarely on Ruto’s governance style. Is he building a team to drive his vision more effectively, or is he consolidating power at the expense of Cabinet ministers and taxpayers? As this saga unfolds, one thing is clear: the controversy over Ruto’s Cabinets is far from over.
