Musalia Mudavadi, a shining star in President William Ruto’s government, continues to ascend the ranks, painting a vivid trajectory of his meteoric rise within the administration.
In a dazzling display of his growing influence, the latest government reshuffle has not only reaffirmed Mr Mudavadi’s position but has, in fact, bolstered it.
As the Prime Cabinet Secretary, he now dons an additional prestigious mantle in the form of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a pivotal role that firmly places him at the heart of the President’s inner circle.
While the reshuffle swept away other cabinet colleagues from their cherished posts, Mr Mudavadi seems to be the perennial harvester of success, reaping the rewards of his strategic alliance with William Ruto forged just last year.
The reshuffle, akin to a political tectonic shift, saw the erstwhile Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary, Alfred Mutua, gracefully step aside from the helm to embrace a less illustrious portfolio, that of Tourism and Heritage.
In an intriguing twist, the influential Trade Cabinet Secretary, Moses Kuria, was ushered into the realm of Public Service Performance and Delivery Management, a significant departure from his former prestigious portfolio. Rebecca Miano takes the reins at the Ministry of Trade, marking a notable transition from the EAC Ministry.
President Ruto’s firm confidence in Mr Mudavadi is evident in the multitude of foreign assignments he has been entrusted with. This has sparked widespread speculation that he might be casting a long shadow over his Deputy, Rigathi Gachagua.
Political pundits argue that Mr Mudavadi’s international sojourns play a pivotal role in shaping President Ruto’s foreign and domestic policies, as he seamlessly represents the President on the global stage.
The Prime Cabinet Secretary has represented Dr Ruto to the US, UK, Brazil, Nigeria, Azerbaijan, and Burundi among other countries.
Mr Mudavadi’s favour with presidents dates back to his early government appointment in his 20s by the late Daniel Moi. In a storied career, he has held key positions such as Minister for Finance and Vice President under President Moi’s administration before the political tides shifted in 2002.
In 2008, he emerged as the Deputy Prime Minister in a coalition government, sharing the stage with the likes of Uhuru Kenyatta.
Notably, he stood as Mwai Kibaki’s favored successor, a role that saw him entrusted with numerous foreign responsibilities by the former President—a testament to his enduring stature on the political landscape.
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