Fear Grips Miano and Three Other CSs as Cabinet Shake-Up Looms to Accommodate Raila’s Allies

A cloud of uncertainty hangs over four Cabinet Secretaries (CSs) from the Mount Kenya region—Rebecca Miano, Eric Murithi Mugaa, Justin Muturi, and Alice Wahome—as speculation mounts over an imminent Cabinet reshuffle aimed at accommodating allies of opposition leader Raila Odinga.

This political maneuver, attributed to President William Ruto, follows the October 2024 impeachment of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and reflects a strategic realignment ahead of the 2027 general election. Gachagua’s removal, approved by a 281-44 vote in the National Assembly on charges of corruption and ethnic bias, has left a power vacuum in Mount Kenya, prompting Ruto to seek Odinga’s support.

According to reports on a local newspaper today, citing State House sources, at least four CS positions are at risk.

The reshuffle is seen as an attempt to stabilize the government following widespread protests and economic unrest, including the scrapped Finance Bill 2024 and growing discontent with the Ruto administration.

The move aligns with the dialogue framework outlined in the Nadco Report.

While integrating Odinga’s allies into the broad-based government has drawn criticism, it is a political lifeline that Raila recently extended to Ruto—one the President cannot afford to ignore.

For Ruto, it is a matter of political survival.

The CSs reportedly in the crosshairs—Eric Murithi Mugaa (Water, Sanitation, and Irrigation), Justin Muturi (Public Service and Human Capital Development), and Alice Wahome (Lands, Public Works, Housing, and Urban Development)—share regional ties to Gachagua, making them vulnerable.

As for Rebecca Miano, CS for Tourism and Wildlife, despite her high-profile career, lingering scandals could provide a pretext for her exit.

Rebecca Miano: A Stained Legacy?

Miano, born in Nairobi with roots in Nyeri, rose from a legal background to become CEO of KenGen, Kenya’s leading electricity generation company, from 2012 to 2019.

Her tenure was marked by efforts to modernize the firm, but whispers of mismanagement and financial irregularities have dogged her legacy.

Allegations of embezzlement surfaced, with claims that she funneled public funds to finance a loan from a Chinese firm—intended for infrastructure but allegedly misused—sparking public outrage.

Though no formal charges were proven, and a related article mysteriously disappeared shortly after her 2024 Attorney General nomination was floated, the scandal has left a stain.

Public sentiment on social media platforms has occasionally reignited these claims, though such posts remain inconclusive.

Her Cabinet stint, beginning with Investments, Trade, and Industry in 2022 and shifting to Tourism in 2024, has earned praise for boosting tourism earnings—projected to hit 650 billion shillings ($5 billion) in 2025—but also criticism for perceived favoritism in policy decisions.

These controversies, combined with her Mount Kenya affiliation, provide Ruto with a plausible pretext to sideline her, especially as he balances regional and political pressures.

Speculation suggests she could be transferred to a less prominent ministry, such as Environment, leveraging her administrative experience.

However, her Mount Kenya ties make her a target. This move would allow Ruto to appease the remaining Mount Kenya voters while distancing her from sensitive economic roles—though it hinges on whether Odinga’s allies demand her position for their own.

Eric Murithi Mugaa: Political Naivety as a Liability

Eric Murithi Mugaa, CS for Water, Sanitation, and Irrigation since July 2024, appears vulnerable due to his political inexperience. At 32, his engineering background and lack of significant political clout may not align with Ruto’s need for seasoned figures to bolster his 2027 campaign. His appointment, initially seen as merit-based, lacks the regional influence Ruto requires to counter Odinga’s growing sway, making his exit a plausible adjustment.

Justin Muturi: A Lightning Rod for Controversy

Justin Muturi, CS for Public Service and Human Capital Development, has become a lightning rod for controversy.

Despite his past as National Assembly Speaker (2013-2022) and Attorney General, Muturi has openly criticized the government he serves, notably targeting the National Intelligence Service (NIS) over abductions, including his son’s ordeal.

His Democratic Party (DP) issued a 30-day exit notice from Kenya Kwanza on March 7, 2025, citing irreconcilable political differences.

This move, aligned with coalition termination clauses, was not unexpected—Muturi himself hinted at his departure months ago, with posts on X reflecting growing dissent.

His outspoken stance and party’s exit signal a break from Ruto, making his ouster all but certain.

Alice Wahome: A Casualty of Regional Balancing

Alice Wahome, CS for Lands, Public Works, Housing, and Urban Development, rounds out the list. Her regional ties to Gachagua fuel her risk. Without the scandals or public defiance of Miano and Muturi, her exit seems more a casualty of regional balancing than a reflection of her performance.

A Risky Gambit for Ruto

The reshuffle echoes Ruto’s December 2024 outreach to former President Uhuru Kenyatta, but this iteration seems tailored to Odinga, potentially alienating Mount Kenya’s base.

Opposition reactions are split, with some viewing Raila’s inclusion as a governance win, while others decry it as a betrayal of protest ideals.

Letting go of some of the CSs who have been Ruto’s long-term allies will not be an easy choice, but it is one he must make to survive politically.

Based on his past actions, he is likely to relocate them to other roles rather than discard them entirely.

However, one thing is certain: some will have to go for the king to remain alive.