Mudavadi: Ruto’s right-hand man? – People Daily

Mudavadi: Ruto’s right-hand man?

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As a rugby participant for the University of Nairobi’s Mean Machine, Musalia Mudavadi was nicknamed ‘Phantom’. A winger in his days, Mudavadi was recognized for his pace, uncooked physique and directness, important substances for any rugby participant.  But wingers are hardly recognized for dictating play, controlling the sport’s tempo and making important choices reminiscent of whether or not to go for a lineout or conversion. That is extra usually a protect of the extra quick-handed fly-halfs, in rugby parlance.

But in President William Ruto’s authorities, Mudavadi has emerged because the fly-half, the Mr Fix-It and the go-to man in occasions of challenges. An excellent CS of types, in the event you like.

Saturday’s announcement by President Ruto that he had assigned Mudavadi and two different Cabinet Secretaries to serve in appearing capacities throughout three vacant ministries solely helped entrench this notion.

The assertion, signed by Head of Public Service Felix Koskei, said that Mudavadi would now function the appearing CS for Information, Communication and the Digital Economy. His Environment counterpart, Aden Duale, was assigned the Agriculture and Livestock Development docket, in an appearing capability, whereas Salim Mvurya, who was not too long ago appointed Sports CS, will in the meantime even be the CS for Investment, Trade, and Industry.

“The Head of State has assigned the vacant ministerial portfolios to Mudavadi, Duale, and Mvurya,” Koskei mentioned.

The three will serve within the vacant ministries, pending parliamentary vetting and approval of President Ruto’s nominees earlier this month, he added, suggesting that they’d step in for Mutahi Kagwe, nominee for Agriculture and Livestock Development Ministry, Lee Kinyanjui for Investment, Trade, and Industry, and William Kabogo for Information, Communication and the Digital Economy, pending their vetting and, barring any surprises, approval to serve within the cupboard.

Critical dockets

Mudavadi’s appointment to behave because the ICT CS is apart from his official place because the Prime Cabinet Secretary and likewise CS for Foreign Affairs. Prior to the president appointing Kipchumba Murkomen because the Interior CS, Mudavadi had additionally acted within the place, a primary in Kenya for a CS to function each the Interior CS and Foreign Affairs concurrently. 

Besides the three positions, Mudavadi has additionally been quietly serving because the CS in control of Gender because the cupboard reshuffle mid this yr which noticed all CSs despatched packing save for him. When the cupboard was reconstituted days later, bringing on board 4 new CSs from opposition chief Raila Odinga’s Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), he by no means stuffed the docket for Gender CS, as an alternative tasking Mudavadi to imagine the position.

By advantage of those positions, Mudavadi is at the moment controlling near Sh60 billion finances within the present monetary yr 2024-2025, apart from the rumoured near Sh10 billion reportedly put aside for Raila’s African Union Commission (AUC) chairmanship campaigns forward of the February 2025 vote.

By advantage of his position because the Foreign Affairs CS, Mudavadi is spearheading Raila’s cost for the coveted place with the veteran opposition chief rising because the frontrunner within the race.

As the Prime Cabinet Secretary, Mudavadi can also be in control of the Council of Principal Secretaries, which meets as soon as each two months.

According to political analyst Dr Martin Oloo of the University of Nairobi, Mudavadi’s a number of roles within the cupboard solely goes an extended method to illustrate the president’s confidence in him.

“Let us accept the fact that in Ruto’s scheme of things, Musalia as the Prime Cabinet Secretary is always the guy to step in whenever there are vacancies in the cabinet. Remember when Ruto sent packing his entire cabinet at the height of the demonstrations earlier this year, it was Mudavadi who took charge of all ministries. It shows the trust and the confidence the president has in him,” says Dr Oloo. 

Besides being Ruto’s go-to man in occasions of challenges, Mudavadi is the president’s biblical John the Baptist, the ascetic Jewish prophet recognized in Christianity who foretold the start of Jesus, preached about God’s Final Judgment and baptised repentant followers in preparation for it.

No off-days

The PCS shouldn’t be with out his detractors.

A former CS who was affected by the cupboard reshuffle has a special opinion.

“He is a Yes-man and that’s why he is always put in those positions as if there are no other qualified Kenyans to serve in the dockets,” he advised People Daily on situation of anonymity for worry of antagonising the institution.

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua can also be on document branding the present CSs, Mudavadi included, as cowards who can’t inform the president the reality.

“I was the only one who could tell him the uncomfortable truth, none of them can, they only say what he (Ruto) wants to hear,” mentioned Gachagua.

In January this yr, Mudavadi made a shock go to to Bondo, Raila’s hometown, with a shock message for locals that excellent news within the offing.

“Soon we will surprise you with some very important and pleasant news,” Mudavadi revealed.

A month later, President Ruto and Raila travelled to Uganda to fulfill President Yoweri Museveni, catching the entire nation abruptly. Keen political observers have been nonetheless fast to attract a hyperlink between Mudavadi’s message in Bondo and the Ruto-Museveni assembly, suggesting {that a} political handshake between the 2 hitherto sworn rivals might be within the offing.

This would come to cross prior to anticipated when the federal government introduced its plans to entrance Raila for the publish of African Union Chairman (AUC).

“I never expected the workload in that office when I took up my appointment in Musalia’s office,” revealed a technocrat primarily based at Mudavadi’s Railway headquarters places of work who shouldn’t be authorised to touch upon his boss’ affairs.

“The guy works 24/7, today he is in Baku, Azerbaijan leading Kenya’s delegation to the Climate Summit, two days later, we are back in the country holding security meetings with top regional administrators and security chiefs, the next day we are in Burundi campaigning for Raila’s AUC bid, no weekends, no off-days,” he provides.