Despite suggestions that DP Gachagua and Prime CS Mudavadi’s roles might overlap and lead to a power clash, Kimilili Mp Didmus Barasa said the two leader’s roles are hierarchically distinct and thus there should not be a problem in determining each other’s position in President Ruto’s administration.
Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa
“I don’t see any duplication of roles between the Prime Cabinet Secretary and the Deputy President. The president made it very clear that after him in terms of hierarchy there is his deputy, Gachagua, then we have the Prime Cabinet Secretary,” said the MP in a Wednesday interview with K24 TV.
Barasa pointed out that although Mudavadi will be on top of all Cabinet Secretaries in President Ruto’s administration, he will serve under DP Gachagua.
“He simply said that the roles that are being played by Musalia Mudavadi would be monitored by the deputy president and that is not duplication. Musalia Mudavadi’s boss is Rigathi Gachagua, and Gachagua’s boss is William Samoei Ruto,” he said.
Barasa added that it could have been a problem at all if by any chance Gachagua and Mudavadi are on the same level of the organogram, but Gachagua is ahead of the rest so he will be coordinating the cabinet secretaries.
Dr. Ruto Tuesday said Mudavadi, a former vice president, will hold the most senior office after the office of the president and deputy president. President Ruto went ahead to describe Mudavadi’s five main responsibilities should he successfully assume office;
“He will assist the President and DP in the coordination and supervision of government ministries and state departments, in liaison with the ministry responsible for interior and national coordination and oversee the implementation of national government policies, programs and projects,” said President Ruto.
“He will chair and coordinate national government legislative agendas across all ministries and state departments in consultation with and for transmission to the party coalition leadership in both the Senate and national assembly.”
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua
Mudavadi will similarly facilitate inter-ministerial coordination of cross-functional initiatives and programmes while supervising the technical monitoring and evaluation of government policies, programs and projects across all ministries.
“He will also perform any other functions as I may assign him,” said President Ruto.
Among the six key responsibilities the President assigned DP Gachagua in addition to the constitutional roles are chairing public committees and overseeing the implementation of cabinet decisions across all ministries and departments.
Gachagua will also coordinate intergovernmental relations between the national government and county governments, including chairing the Intergovernmental Budget and Economic Council (IBEC).
