President William Ruto met his predecessor, Mr Uhuru Kenyatta, at his home in Gatundu on Monday, sparking intense political speculation on social media over whether Mr Kenyatta’s allies will get a Cabinet slot.
Some analysts have seen as an attempt to appease the restive Mt Kenya region where political leaders have been on the receiving end with voters since the impeachment of Rigathi Gachagua as Deputy President.
The position of Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration has been vacant for over a month after Prof Kithure Kindiki was appointed Deputy President.
There has been speculation that Mr Mutahi Kagwe, who served as the Cabinet Secretary for Health under the then President Kenyatta is likely to be appointed to the position in what President Ruto has described as his “broad-based government”.
Monday’s meeting was the first such between the two leaders since the August 2022 elections although they met in Embu in November for the consecration of an Anglican bishop.
In a post on X, State House said the meeting was to discuss issues of national importance and centred on discussions touching on the economy, politics as well as regional peace and integration, among other matters.
That there could be further re-organisation of the current administration emerged from the admission by State House that the two leaders discussed ways of broadening the government and a political conversation in the country, the reconstitution of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) and the campaign for ODM leader Raila Odinga to be elected as the chairman of the African Union Commission in February.
The leaders, in particular, called for the prompt resolution of the court matters regarding the constitution of the IEBC selection panel to facilitate the appointment of commissioners in readiness for the 2027 General Election.
There have been growing calls by religious leaders, judges and civil society for the IEBC to be reconstituted at the earliest with less than two and a half years to the next election.
“His Excellency President William Ruto today (Monday) visited former President Uhuru Kenyatta at his family home in Gatundu. During the visit, the two national leaders discussed several issues of national and regional importance,” President Ruto’s communication team said in a statement posted on social media.
“The two leaders called on Kenyans, friends of Kenya, and international partners to support the candidacy of Raila Odinga for the position of Chair of the African Union Commission,” State House said.
Mr Kenyatta wields considerable influence among African leaders and his support for the rocky bid by Mr Odinga could sway some support for Mr Odinga, who is facing off with Mahamoud Ali Youssuf, a candidate from Djibouti.
The meeting also comes at a time when President Ruto and the Kenya Kwanza administration has been facing increasing criticism from the public, especially on the performance of his administration and the economy and in the wake of the impeachment of Mr Gachagua in October.
The meeting is likely to lead to the isolation of Mr Gachagua, who has emerged as one of the strongest critics of the Ruto administration after leaders from the Minority coalition, Azimio, were co-opted into the broad-based government.
The two, according to the statement, appreciated the need to achieve broader and more inclusive political consensus in governance to accelerate the attainment of inclusive growth and fulfil the national development agenda.
“President Ruto also thanked President Kenyatta for laying a strong foundation that has enabled the government to implement key programmes under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda,” the statement said.
“These programmes include transforming agriculture to ensure food security, achieving universal health coverage, providing affordable housing, empowering MSMEs, developing transport and communication infrastructure, last-mile electrification, and re-evaluating and reforming the Competency-Based Curriculum and the education sector in general, among other initiatives”.
Besides politics, the two also discussed the challenges confronting the environment globally and that has affected many countries, including Kenya. They also discussed the after-effects of the Covid-19 pandemic of 2020-2022, the war in Ukraine, inflation, the volatile currency markets and other issues of global concern.
“Their excellencies also acknowledged Kenya’s leading role in promoting peace and security in the East African region through diplomatic and peace support initiatives, which are crucial to resolving conflicts, restoring peace and fostering regional stability,” the State House statement said.
“They also committed to maintaining regular engagements on matters of national importance alongside other leaders and stakeholders”.
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