Office drama involving Moses Kuria and Mudavadi addressed
In the wake of the recent cabinet reshuffle, speculations and controversies surrounding office allocations have prompted a response from Kibisu Kabatesi, Secretary of Government Strategic Communications.
In a statement released on Sunday, October 15, 2023, he aimed to dispel any misconceptions about government office assignments.
The statement began by addressing media reports that alleged disputes between the Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Dr Musalia Mudavadi, and Cabinet Secretary for Public Service, Moses Kuria, regarding office space.
Mr Kabatesi emphasised the established hierarchy within the government’s organisational structure.
According to him, Mr Kuria does not hold a position that would warrant a conflict with his superior, the Prime Cabinet Secretary.
Also read: Mudavadi embraces noisy Railways stage office
Contrary to the reported tensions surrounding office allocation and portfolio designation, Kabatesi asserted that no known disputes exist within the Office of the Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs (OPCS-MFDA).
He clarified that PCS-MFDA had temporarily occupied the Treasury Building while awaiting the completion of renovations and refurbishments at his Railways Headquarters office.
Highlighting PCS-MFDA’s unpretentiousness, the statement mentioned that he had already relocated to the Treasury Building premises pending the finalisation of the Railways Headquarters office.
The statement addressed the misconception that the Treasury Building was designated as the office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs.
“To therefore allege that Treasury Building is designated as the office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs is to convolute public evidence in the Executive Order No1 of January 2023 that designates the office as at Kenya Railways headquarters, off Haile Selassie Avenue, P.O BOX 62345 – 00100, Nairobi,” the statement read.
Therefore, the status quo remains unchanged until a subsequent Executive Order is issued by H.E. President Dr. William Ruto.
Also read: Moses Kuria: Why I moved my office to Two Rivers Mall
Kabatesi cautioned against any public servant attempting to allocate ministerial locations or portfolios, emphasizing that this function belongs solely to the President.
He warned that such actions could disrupt the collective responsibility of the Cabinet and were likely the result of imaginative misadventures.
“Such action can be attributed to enthusiastic flight of imagination; the import of which such misadventure is to sow disorder and discord among members of the Cabinet with intent to disorient collective responsibility of the Cabinet,” Kabatesi stated.
Portfolio designation was addressed as the prerogative of the President and could not be usurped by a Civil Servant.
The recent government reorganization saw the State Department of Performance Management, which includes the Public Service Performance Management Unit, moved to the Ministry of Public Service. Despite this change, other institutions supporting the Prime Cabinet Secretary’s functions remain unaffected.