Kindiki loses key intergovernmental role to Mudavadi in Ruto's shake-up

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki is under siege following a directive by President William Ruto through the Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service, Felix Koskei, that has stripped him of the role of intergovernmental coordination.

And through the stroke of a pen, Kindiki has lost the key devolution department that will now be handled by Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, who will be the link between devolved units and the national government.

Through correspondence between Mudavadi, Koskei, the Attorney General and the Senate that have been availed to the Standard, Mudavadi will now lead implementation and administration of the Intergovernmental Relations, arguably the only serious role Kindiki has been performing.

With the duties snatched from Kindiki, he will have no significant duties but will instead carry out errands for the president across the country. It is not clear why the drastic changes were made, but it is telling that they come shortly after Kenya Kwanza lost the Ol Kalou by-election.

Kindiki and other Ruto allies failed to deliver the Ol Kalou seat despite the government spending enormous resources, including open bribery of voters. The ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) suffered a seismic loss to former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP).

Through two separate letters dated July 15 this year by Mudavadi and Parliamentary Affairs Principal Secretary Aurelia Rono, who serves under Mudavadi’s office, the two confirmed that Mudavadi was now in charge of the Intergovernmental Coordination following a directive issued by Kosgey on June 8 2026.

Mudavadi personally wrote to Council of Governors (COG) chairperson Ahmed Abdullahi advising that he had been designated to lead the docket.

“I'm pleased to advise that my office has since received the designation required to promulgate Regulations under the Intergovernmental Relations Act (Cap. 265F). My office has thus requested the State Department for Devolution to take the necessary action to implement the designation for the purpose of re-engaging the Senate and publication of the Regulations,” Mudavadi wrote.

Curiously, on the same day, the Parliamentary Affairs PS wrote to her counterpart, Mr Michal Lenasalon, PS for Devolution domiciled under Kindiki’s docket, asking the office to issue a gazette notice declaring that Mudavadi was now in charge of the Inter-governmental Relations docket.

“I'm now pleased to enclose hereto a response from the Head of the Public Service Ref: SH/EOP/7 Vol. III (52) dated 8th June 2026, being an Instrument designating the Prime Cabinet Secretary as the Cabinet Secretary responsible for the implementation and administration of the Intergovernmental Relations Act (Cap. 265F of the Laws of Kenya), in support of the Office of the Deputy President's mandate of fostering intergovernmental relations. This instrument was also brought to the attention of your office,’ the letter reads.

It added: “We therefore request your office to take the necessary action to implement the designation for purposes of re-engaging the Senate and subsequent publication of the Regulations.”

The controversy surrounding the leadership of the Intergovernmental Coordination started on March 12 last year, when Mudavadi sent the draft Intergovernmental Relations (Sector Forums) regulation of 2026 to the Senate clerk, Jeremiah Nyengenye, who rejected the prayer, saying the docket was not under his authority.

Mudavadi’s letter reads: ‘Pursuant to section 38(3) of the Intergovernmental Relations Act, it is my pleasure to forward herewith the draft Intergovernmental Relations Sector Forums Regulations 2026 for laying before the Senate for approval.”

In his response, Nyengenye informed Mudavadi that after the Committee on Delegated Legislation reviewed the regulation in a meeting held on April 16, it found no evidence that Mudavadi had been assigned the responsibility.

“Inter-governmental Affairs falls under the Office of the Deputy President. No evidence has been provided to demonstrate that the Prime Cabinet Secretary has been assigned responsibility for these matters. The Committee seeks clarification on the basis upon which the Prime Cabinet Secretary has assumed the role of regulation-making authority under the Act," the letter reads.

Additionally, the Clerk maintained that public participation regarding the regulations had been done over ‘five years’, maintaining that no documentation was submitted to the committee to demonstrate that the views received during consultations remained current or that any further consultations were conducted closer to the date of submission.

The Clerk summoned Mudavadi to a meeting on May 7 and wrote to him on May 11 reiterating that he had no mandate to present the regulations, advising him to urge the appointing authority to gazette him as the Cabinet Secretary for him to give him the mandate of leading the coordination docket.

“Section 2 of the Intergovernmental Relations Act defines "Cabinet Secretary" as the Cabinet Secretary responsible for matters relating to intergovernmental relations and under Executive Order No. 1 of 2022, Devolution and Intergovernmental Affairs falls under the Office of the Deputy President; Whereas the Deputy President cannot directly perform the functions of a Cabinet Secretary, express authority ought to have been given by the appointing authority to the Prime Cabinet Secretary appointing him as the Cabinet Secretary authorized to deal with matters relating to intergovernmental relations,” the letter reads.

The letter added: “Article 132(3)(c) of the Constitution empowers the President, by a decision published in the Gazette, to assign responsibility for the implementation and administration of any Act of Parliament to a Cabinet Secretary, to the extent not inconsistent with any Act of Parliament. This avenue may be explored to give the Prime Cabinet Secretary authority to make these Regulations and any other Regulations under the Intergovernmental Relations Act, Cap 265F.

Following the advisory, Mudavadi, on May 21 last year, wrote to Kosgey, asking him to utilise Article 132 of the Constitution and appoint him as the Cabinet Secretary in charge of Intergovernmental Relations.

“As you are aware, Executive Order No.1 of 2025 vests the Office of the Deputy President with the mandate of coordinating intergovernmental relations between the National Government and County Governments, including chairing the Intergovernmental Budget and Economic Council (IBEC).

The letter further read, “The Senate committee resolved and advised that the National Executive should explore Article 132(3)(c) of the Constitution, which empowers the President, by a decision published in the Gazette, to assign responsibility for the implementation and administration of any Act of Parliament to a Cabinet Secretary, to the extent not inconsistent with any Act of Parliament. This would give the Prime Cabinet Secretary authority to make the Intergovernmental Relations (Sector Forum) Regulations, 2026 and any other Regulations under the Act.

Following Mudavadi’s letter, Kosgey, on June 8, responded through a letter titled ‘assignment of implementation of a statute’ which communicated the decision of the President to appoint Mudavadi as the designated Cabinet Secretary responsible for the implementation and administration of the Intergovernmental Relations Act.

“In view of the foregoing, and conscious of the broad constitutional mandate of the Deputy President as the principal assistant to the President, it is notified that His Excellency the President has, pursuant to Article 132(3)(c) of the Constitution, designated you as the Cabinet Secretary responsible for the implementation and administration of the Intergovernmental Relations Act, Cap.265F of the Laws of Kenya.

“Accordingly, you are required to take the necessary measures to ensure the effective implementation and administration of the Intergovernmental Relations Act (Chapter 265 of the Laws of Kenya), in support of the Office of the Deputy President's mandate of fostering intergovernmental relations,” the letter read.

While Mudavadi has written constant letters to the government agencies involved, Kindiki has not been copied on the correspondence and has not spoken about the matter, with only the State Department of Devolution being involved.

The Standard has learnt that since January, Kindiki has not chaired the Intergovernmental Coordination Committee, where in April, he invited and later cancelled the invitation to stakeholders in the sector.

With the crucial docket that allowed him to access devolved units gone, his influence in the Council of Governors (COG) will fade and the matter risks bringing confusion in the State Department of Devolution, which remains under his docket, as the officers will be at a crossroads on where to answer to between him and Mudavadi.

At the same time, it remains to be seen whether Kindiki will sit at the National Coordination Summit, a top intergovernmental apex body comprising the President, the Deputy President, and all 47 county governors, where he sat by dint of his leading the Inter-governmental body.

The structure of the Summit dictates that the Deputy President can only lead the Summit in the absence of the President, who serves as the chairperson alongside the COG chairperson, who serves as the Vice chairperson.

The Summit is mandated to resolve cross-level implementation challenges, resource sharing, and the transfer or unbundling of devolved functions.

With the Intergovernmental coordination providing the overarching legal and operational framework that defines the relationship with the Intergovernmental Budget and Economic Council (IBEC), which serves as the specific fiscal platform where this coordination is executed, it is unclear whether Kindiki will have an influence.

Additionally, Kindiki’s removal as the Inter-governmental lead may jeopardise his role in the Intergovernmental Relations Technical Committee (IGRTC), which ensures harmonious intergovernmental relations provide a forum for consultation, cooperation, and coordination between the national and county governments.

 On Tuesday, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua claimed that allies of President William Ruto were targeting Kindiki and alleged that the factions were disrespecting and scheming to sideline Kindiki within the government.

“Ruto’s allies are targeting Kindiki; they want to start disrespecting him the way they did to me when I was in office. I therefore direct my foot soldiers to stop attacking him because he is our son,” he said.

Other leaders who have openly contradicted Kindiki, especially after UDA’s loss in Ol Kalou by-election, include Ndia MP George Kariuki claiming he was sleeping on the job.

The MP dismissed Kindiki’s assertion that the government and the Opposition went on a draw after each won the Mbeere North and Ol Kalou by-elections, saying the government had lost in both by-elections and blamed Kindiki for the loss.

“We did not go to the draw in both by-elections. In Ol Kalou, the Opposition had 87 per cent against UDA, who had 13 per cent, while in Mbeere North we only won with 400 votes. The truth is that it can never be drawn; we must admit that there is a major problem in Mt Kenya and the problem is the leadership. There is no influence; there is no one who is showing the mountain the direction,” he said.

He added: “We don’t want people who are chest-thumping, saying they will do this and that to deliver to the government; that will not help the region and us who support Ruto. If you have been allowed to lead us, especially those of us from the mountain, stop sleeping on the job, take the mantle and lead us the way; don’t be lazy, let us embark on the work that we have been given by the President and if you fail, some of us will take it and lead the way.”

Kapsaret MP Oscar Sudi has also claimed that following Ol Kalou's loss, there would be implications on Kindiki’s fate next year, saying a time had come to realise that the Mt Kenya region had gone.

“About Professor, there's nothing we can say right now because we know he is trying his best. He has done what he can do. But if you want to get better when you get malaria, you can't be told to take aspirin when there is quinine. First, remove this from your head: that we should set aside the Mt. Kenya vote, then we can start a new path.