NAIROBI, Kenya- In a surprising political twist, President William Ruto has reinstated two former Cabinet Secretaries, Moses Kuria and Eliud Owalo, who had been fired following nationwide youth-led protests.
Their return, now as top presidential advisors, signals both a bold and controversial move by the head of state.
For many, this marks a political rebirth for Kuria and Owalo.
Once symbols of political fallout, they are now reinstated in critical role.
Kuria, known for his sharp and unapologetic rhetoric, now sits as a senior advisor in the President’s Council of Economic Advisors, a team that will determine Kenya’s economic policies.
His appointment may ruffle some feathers but also rekindles hope among those who believe in his economic ideas.
Owalo, also dismissed amid public outcry, now returns to the corridors of power as Deputy Chief of Staff in Performance and Delivery Management.
He will work under Chief of Staff Felix Koskei, leading initiatives aimed at improving the government’s delivery on promises made to the Kenyan people.
The president, who vowed to reduce the number of advisors in response to protests, is now expanding his team in a way that directly counters those earlier assurances.
“Under the tutelage and close guidance of the President, I look foward to working with all stakeholders in strengthening the Perfomance Management framework within Government; inculcating a Results-Based Culture in the Public Service; and ensuring efficient and effective delivery of Government Priority Projects and programmes in line with the Bottom Up Economic Transformation Agenda,” the former ICT Cabinet Secretary said in a statement on X.
But perhaps the most telling appointment is that of Dennis Itumbi, a long-time Ruto loyalist and digital strategist.
Now at the helm of the Creative Economy and Special Projects, Itumbi is tasked with transforming Kenya’s creative sectors, breathing life into an industry often overlooked but brimming with potential.
