Big loss for Kiunjuri, win for Matiangi as President realigns ministries

Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mwangi Kiunjuri has suffered a major setback after the President issued a directive to realign Cabinet ministries.

Also Read: Why Fred Matiang’i is President Kenyatta’s Mr Fix-it

In an Executive order dated August 22, President Uhuru Kenyatta said the Irrigation State Department will be moved from the Agriculture Ministry to Water and Sanitation under CS Simon Chelugui.

According to the President, this is to enhance synergy within the Water Sector, which is a key enabler for the implementation of the Big Four Agenda.

Kiunjuri’s woes seem to have deepened after frequent incidents of reprimanding by the President.

In March this year, during a trip to Namibia, the Head of State scolded the Agriculture CS for what he termed as ‘lack of interest’.

Months later, Kiunjuri would again come under fire as leaders from Western Kenya called for his resignation over maize importation plans.

In other changes announced on Friday, Interior CS Fred Matiang’i will now take over the Presidential Delivery Unit (PDU).

PDU was previously under the Executive Office of the President as was the Directorate of National Cohesion and Values.

The two dockets are now under CS Matiang’i as is the newly formed State Department for Immigration and Citizen Services that was established as a merger.

“(This is) to foster the integration of the functions of Registration of Persons and the functions of Immigration,” the President said.

In January this year through an Executive order, President Kenyatta appointed CS Matiang’i to head all government projects.

Also Read: President Kenyatta appoints CS Matiang’i head of all gov’t projects

As the head of the National Development Implementation and Communication Cabinet Committee, CS Matiang’i would report directly to State House.

The committee includes all Cabinet Secretaries, Attorney General Paul Kihara as well as the Head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua.

Reports were rife that Deputy President William had been sidelined in the appointments.

However, ANC party leader Musalia Mudavadi dismissed the claims saying that the move was in line with the Constitution.