Questions arise over President Ruto's growing list of advisors

Questions have arisen over the increasing number of President William Ruto’s advisors at State House, with the number doubling despite the Head of State promising to reduce it by half.

The recent addition of Prof. Makau Mutua, who is ODM leader Raila Odinga’s close ally, and Jaoko Oburu, the son of Siaya Senator Oburu Odinga, has clogged an already bloated government.

This even after, at the height of the Gen Z protests, the President promised to reduce the cost of running government by slashing the number of his advisors by half.

"The number of advisors in government shall be reduced by 50 within the public service with immediate effect," President Ruto said on July 5, 2024.

From about 7 advisors, the number has risen to about 17 in just over 10 months, with more signings during the broad-based exchange programme.

Prof. Makau Mutua, a sworn critic of President William Ruto and a distinguished Kenyan-American scholar, signed in this week as the president’s advisor on constitutional matters.

A week earlier, Jaoko Oburu, the son of Siaya Senator Oburu Odinga, was named the president’s special advisor on economic empowerment and sustainable livelihoods.

The other advisors include Prof. Abdi Guliye, Dominic Menjo, Nancy Laiboni, Henry Kinyua, Steven Otieno, David Ndii, Augustine Cheruiyot, Moses Kuria, Mohamed Hassan, Prof. Adams Oloo, Joe Ager, Dr. Silverstone Okumu, Prof. Edward Kisiangani, Harriete Chiggai and Kennedy Ogeto.

The list is now raising concerns about the President’s commitment to reduce wastage and duplication of roles, with the cost of the advisors running into over a billion shillings annually.

The colossal number is a stark contrast to the 3 advisors that President Mwai Kibaki appointed during his last tenure, including Raphael Tuju, who was appointed as an advisor on matters media, and Prof. Kivutha Kibwana, who was appointed as the advisor on youth and constitutional matters.

"You are asked an assignment, like when there was a Ministry of Youth Affairs — you are asked how should we do this? You do research, the matter is presented to the President, and the President chooses what to do," Prof. Kivutha Kibwana, former president’s advisor, stated. 

The former Makueni Governor poked holes into the quality, quantity, and caliber of President Ruto’s plethora of advisors.

"One would have to ask: is it because someone is a relative of a senior ODM person, or what value do they bring? We want to see what that advice impacts in terms of what the President is doing," Kibwana added. 

Political pundits and opposition leaders have opined that President Ruto has been awarding his political cronies, especially after the courts slammed breaks on the contentious Chief Administrative Secretaries’ posts.