President Ruto’s Unconventional Leadership Style Sends Shockwaves Among Allies
Claims of high-stakes phone calls ordering government officials or politicians and making impromptu policy pronouncements with enormous repercussions have revealed President William Ruto’s hands-on leadership style, which is quickly unnerving some of his allies.
In typical fashion, the President announced on Friday that he had directed parliamentary committees to review clauses regarding the taxation of content creators.
Political allies and technocrats in the Kenya Kwanza administration paint a picture of a president in complete command of his administration’s operations.
Some describe this as being hands-on and decisive, while others say it is rife with interference and threats that make it difficult for officials to perform their duties independently.
His leadership style is rapidly transforming into a one-man show in which he appears to micromanage every policy decision, even in institutions that should normally operate independently.
His predecessors, Uhuru Kenyatta, and Mwai Kibaki, were known for their laid-back, easygoing, but often described as reluctant and not on top of things, leadership style. According to sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity, this approach is quickly replacing their style.
The most recent instance of this ‘one-man show’ behavior by the President occurred on Friday when he implied he had unilaterally asked Parliament to drop a tax proposal that is currently undergoing public consultation.
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While presiding over the National Drama Festivals gala performance at State House, Dr. Ruto appeared to usurp the role of Members of Parliament and the public who had been submitting comments by revealing he had instructed the National Assembly’s Finance and National Planning and Information Communication Technology committees to review tax proposals on online content in response to protests.
“I am aware that there is a proposal for digital content in this year’s budget, and that creators are making a statement. I’ve instructed the ICT and Finance committees to investigate. President Ruto stated, “Let’s give them a bit more room.”
The tax proposal is included in the Finance Bill of 2023, which is currently undergoing public input in the House of Representatives.
Some officials have described Dr. Ruto as an attentive listener who gives advisers and technical experts sufficient time to explain points. According to a second close ally and lawmaker, Dr. Ruto, unlike his predecessor, rarely delegated responsibilities.
Both individuals spoke on the condition of anonymity. However, some of these characteristics have irritated government officials and political figures.
In a circular dated April 3, Chief of Staff and Head of the Public Service Felix Koskei instructed corporation boards to seek clearance from his office before appointing or renewing the CEOs of their respective parastatals.
“Ministries and State Corporations are reminded to strictly adhere to the directive requiring this office’s concurrence before the appointment/re-appointment of chief executive officer,” Mr. Koskei, who represents the President, said in the circular.
Statute of State Corporations The State Corporations Act and Mwongozo require boards to select chief executive officers. The boards are required to supervise the overall strategy and approve significant policies of the parastatals.
A chairman of a parastatal who spoke on the condition of anonymity stated that they are operating under difficult conditions as a result of Mr. Koskei’s circular, which also instructed them to cease inspection projects by parastatals.
The official provided the example of the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (Kemsa), whose entire board was fired after the mosquito net scandal.
“We have been instructed not to participate in project procurement or inspection. Therefore, at what point are we liable for any misappropriation of funds? It is an attempt by a few individuals to remotely manage the parastatals, said the board chair, who requested anonymity.
Multiple government sources told Sunday Nation that President Ruto’s leadership style could cause qualified Kenyans to quit their jobs due to pressure and strict supervision.
“There is no room for error or for falling asleep on the job. The President routinely calls to inquire about the status of various cases and requests real-time updates.
Recently, the President revealed that he contacted the principal secretaries before the release of the budget estimates.
Raila Odinga, the leader of Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya, has publicly criticized Dr. Ruto’s leadership style, particularly the dismissal of the Kemsa board and chief executive officer.
Mr. Odinga stated that Dr. Ruto should permit his ministers to make policy decisions concerning their respective ministries.
“A government should be administered as such, with specific responsibilities assigned to ministers. Why are ministers not addressing important policy issues? The President is responsible for making important policy decisions. In response to the dismissal of Kemsa, Mr. Odinga stated, “If there is a major policy statement in Education, it should come from the Education Minister.”
State capture Mr. Seth Panyako, the former United Democratic Alliance (UDA) deputy vice chairperson in charge of programs who resigned last week in a huff over an alleged phone call from the President, desires that the Head of State refrain from interfering with State corporations.
“State capture is a reality, and I have witnessed it. I implore you (President) to disengage from State corporations. Once individuals have been appointed, allow them to carry out their duties by State Corporation law, he said.
Some of the allegations were not independently verifiable by GossipA2Z.
President Ruto’s Unconventional Leadership Style Sends Shockwaves Among Allies
John Mbadi, the chairman of the ODM, and Jeremiah Kioni, the secretary-general of the Jubilee Party, both described Dr. Ruto’s leadership style as pure State capture.
“I am unsure if this is even a leadership style. His actions contradict all characteristics of good governance. State House has been the site of significant university-related policymaking. Mr. Mbadi stated that he should allow his ministers to perform their duties.
He added, “In a nutshell, Ruto must be brought back into line because his leadership is holding the country hostage. He cannot attain the position of selecting the office cleaners. When a president makes phone calls to influence parastatal appointment decisions. He must give his officers room to perform their duties. “His manner of operation is too relaxed,” he said.
Mr. Kioni asserted that employees of the Kenya Kwanza administration worked in a challenging environment.
“What we are currently witnessing is true State capture. All institutions report to the White House rather than their respective line ministers. And anyone who appears to express an opposing viewpoint is expelled. Ruto only listens to himself, according to Mr. Kioni.
Gen Ogolla appointment In a recent interview with television stations, Dr. Ruto seemed to imply that he has absolute authority over the appointment of the Chief of Defence Forces and that he had alternatives to Gen. Francis Ogolla, whom he accused of attempting to influence the outcome of the presidential election.
“General Ogolla was among those who went to the Bomas of Kenya to try to overturn my victory,” said Dr. Ruto. “However, after reviewing his resume, I concluded that he was the best candidate for the position of general.”
He continued, “I could have chosen anyone. People say I chose Ogolla because he was the deputy CDF director, but this is not true. I made the choice deliberately and against the advice of many people.”
The position of CDF, however, rotates among the three services of the Kenya Army, Kenya Air Force, and Kenya Navy by the rules introduced by retired Chief of General Staff Gen. Daudi Tonje, also known as the Tonje Rules. Gen Robert Kibochi was a member of the Kenyan Army, while Gen Samson Mwathethe was a member of the Kenyan Navy.
Dr. Ruto had no choice but to select the next chief of defense from the Kenya Air Force. In other words, the rule limited his options to Gen. Ogolla and Lt. Gen. Mohammed Badi, who are the only Air Force veterans with the rank of Lieutenant-General.
Also, the President reportedly moved the government printer from Harambee to the State House to increase efficiency. This action, according to his handlers, is intended to prevent delays in government communications.
To further demonstrate control, the President recently ordered the transfer of the land valuation function from the National Land Commission (NLC) to the Lands Ministry in light of allegations of corruption.
However, the decision to strip NLC of its responsibilities was met with mixed reactions, with some industry players threatening to sue the President for violating the law.
Legal experts have questioned the President’s authority to issue such orders, particularly after a Supreme Court ruling transferred valuation and compensation powers from the Ministry of Lands to the National Land Commission during the first term of the Jubilee government.
However, Attorney General Justin Muturi recently stated to the Nation that he sees no problem with the proposed changes to the land sector.
“A proposal to change or enact a law cannot be considered interference. Even you can make such a proposal, Mr. Muturi remarked.
In addition, the President held a secret meeting with Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists Union (KMPDU) officials to discuss the strain in the Health sector, where he discussed the reversion of county functions to the national government without consulting governors.
Similarly, when President Ruto received the second interim report of the Presidential Working Group on Education Reforms (PWPER) in February, he expressed his displeasure, compelling the team to revise their report to meet his requirements.
According to reports, the President was unconvinced that the proposals, particularly regarding university funding, are sustainable and therefore asked them to rethink them before submitting their final proposals. Later, Dr. Ruto would hold a meeting with university vice-chancellors during which he would propose a new model for school fees in the institutions.
Dr. Ruto’s commitment to allowing independent institutions to operate without interference has also been called into question, particularly after he fired former Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) director George Kinoti, with whom he had fallen out in the run-up to the elections.
Dr. Ruto insists, however, that Mr. Kinoti violated the law and used the DCI as a political tool to target opponents of Mr. Kenyatta’s rule, and thus must be removed.
“In a police station near Nairobi, there was a container where people were being slaughtered. How exactly did we get there? What kind of deviant organization was that? “This is why I fired that Kinoti employee,” Dr. Ruto explained in an interview.
The National Police Service Act stipulates that the DCI director may only be fired after a petition is filed with the National Police Service Commission and he or she is found guilty.
President Ruto’s Unconventional Leadership Style Sends Shockwaves Among Allies
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