Kenyan president reshuffles Cabinet in surprise move

By Andrew Wasike

NAIROBI, Kenya (AA) - Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta reshuffled his Cabinet on Wednesday, making changes in the defense, devolution and energy ministries.

A statement from the presidency said the changes are necessary to promote enhanced operational efficiency and it also “institutionalizes the implementation of various ongoing groundbreaking reforms, better orientates portfolio responsibilities with both national development plans as well as the needs of citizens and introduces functional changes that shall make the relevant Ministries and State Departments more efficient and better able to deliver superlative services to the public.”

Eugene Wamalwa, who previously served as the Devolution, Arid and Semi-arid Minister, will now head the Defense Ministry.

Former defense chief Monica Juma, will lead the Energy Ministry.

Kenyan politician Charles Keter has been handed the Ministry of Devolution which was previously headed by Wamalwa.

Margaret Kobia was transferred to the newly formed Ministry of Public Service, Gender, Senior Citizens Affairs, and Special Programmes. She had been serving as Minister of Public Service and Gender.

“The changes take effect immediately,” the presidency said in a statement.

The reshuffle also brought changes to several Permanent Secretaries positions.​​​​​​​