Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has addressed circulating reports suggesting he has been demoted after key responsibilities were reportedly shifted away from his office.
On July 28, Kindiki posted a succinct message on Facebook stating, "Nothing has changed," countering media claims that President William Ruto and Head of Public Service Felix Koskei had reassigned the crucial role of intergovernmental coordination.
Reassignment of Intergovernmental Coordination
According to various reports, the function that involves managing relations between county governments and the national government was being transferred to Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi. This move would position Mudavadi as the primary operational link in intergovernmental affairs.
The change reportedly involved communications among Mudavadi, Felix Koskei, the Attorney General, and the Senate, indicating a formal realignment within the Kenya Kwanza administration’s executive structure.
Implications for Kindiki's Role
- The intergovernmental coordination docket has been considered the most substantive part of Kindiki’s portfolio.
- Critics argue that losing this responsibility could reduce the Deputy President’s independent policy oversight, leaving him to execute assignments primarily directed by the President.
- Kindiki’s brief response did not clarify how this shift affects his current duties or future collaboration with Mudavadi.
This development has sparked broader discussions about the division of authority between the Deputy President and the Prime Cabinet Secretary, a relatively new office in Kenya’s government.
