Besieged DP Ruto boxed into corner amidst imminent cabinet reshuffle -

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President Uhuru Kenyatta is expected  to announce a sweeping reorganisation of his government at any time now in what pundits believe is an effort to give fresh impetus to his government’s drive to fight corruption and deliver on his BIG-4 agenda.

Politically, the centrepiece of the reshuffle is expected to be the sacrifice of those aligned to Deputy President William Ruto and the introduction of the allies of NASA leader Raila Odinga.

Raila Odinga jetted into Mombasa early this week straight from his vacation in Namibia with sources indicating he had met President Kenyatta who soon after summoned the entire cabinet to Mombasa amidst speculation that the cabinet would be dissolved and a fresh one reconstituted.

The development has given rise to anxiety among Kalenjin allies of Deputy President William Ruto who say their community is being targeted in a one sided fight against corruption.

Towards the end of 2018, substantial casualties looked likely to be allies of DP Ruto who have either been implicated in corruption or are under performing.

Whereas Kenyatta has publicly chastised his cabinet, he has ironically shied away from reshuffling due to political backlash it may elicit from his support bases.

On two occasions last year, the president uncharacteristically lashed out at CS Mwangi Kiunjuri and openly told him to bring the Maize Scandal culprits to book or face the music himself.

According to confidential sources close to State House in Mombasa, those who would be in line for the chop in addition to Kiunjuri include Energy CS Charles Keter, the defacto second in command in William Ruto’s camp.

The source added Sports CS Rashid Echesa had failed to measure up to cabinet standards and was routinely embarrassing the president at State events. State House had also warned cabinet secretaries against public political campaigns Echesa had failed to take heed.

Another highly placed casualty is likely to be Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development James Macharia. The president is reportedly unhappy with Macharia’s management of one of the largest cabinet dockets and wants to bring in a more hands-on and experienced individual to take over the portfolio that is responsible for one of his BIG-4 agenda in affordable housing.

Allies of DP Ruto have in the meantime escalated a war of words with those of President Kenyatta over the 2013 pre-election deal that saw Kenyatta pledging to endorse and back Ruto over

That deal has been thrown into serious doubt following a surprise peace deal between Kenyatta and his archival Raila Odinga which culminated in the signing of a memorandum of understanding that promises wide ranging reforms in structureof governance.

Kenyatta’s audacious declaration that his agreement with Raila was “very deep and for the long term” has further deepened confusion amongst allies of DP Ruto who feel their man is slowly but surely being edged out.

To make matters worse, David Murathe a high ranking Jubilee Party official and close confidant of Kenyatta, has publicly ruled out the possibility of DP Ruto inheriting Kenyatta’s mantle, disdainfully branding the DP unsuitable for Presidency.

CS without portfolio and Jubilee Party Secretary General Raphael Tuju has also weighed in and said the Jubilee presidential ticket was not automatic.