Ruto Hints at Relieving CS Alfred Mutua of Ministerial Duties, Says He Will Pick Another Minister

President William Ruto has announced that he will relieve Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua of his ministerial duties so that he can focus on his bid for the Machakos Senate seat in 2027.

Ruto made the remarks in Machakos County while on his development tour of Ukambani, addressing a large crowd that had turned out to receive him.

Speaking in Kiswahili, he said: “Kwa hivyo niwapee huyu akatafute ya Senator. Na nichukue mwengine awe waziri.. lakini mwambieni chama ni gani.. baas!”

Roughly translated, he said he would give Mutua to the people of Machakos to go and seek the Senate seat, while he picks another person to serve as minister. He then told the crowd to tell Mutua which party he should be in.

The statement was reported by TVL News under the headline “CS Alfred Mutua fired?!”, but the President’s words point to Mutua being freed to pursue elective politics rather than being dismissed.

No formal communication on the change has been issued, and it is not yet clear when it would take effect or who would take over the Labour docket.

Mutua served two terms as Machakos governor before joining the national government, and the Senate bid would take him back to the politics of the county.

Ruto’s remarks were also read as part of a wider push to popularise his UDA party in a region long dominated by the Wiper Party. By telling the crowd to remind Mutua which party he belongs to, the President appeared to be steering the CS towards running on a UDA ticket.

The comments come as Ruto spends three days in Ukambani launching and inspecting development projects. The tour has been politically charged.

A day earlier, the President was in Kalonzo Musyoka’s Tseikuru backyard in Kitui County, directing that a road be tarmacked up to the Wiper leader’s gate. Ukambani is seen as a key battleground ahead of 2027, and the government side is working hard to cut into the opposition’s hold on the region.

Supporters of the President will likely see the announcement as a clear plan to build a strong UDA ticket in Machakos.

Critics may question the timing, noting that the elections are still months away and that the Labour docket is a busy ministry. It remains to be seen how Wiper will respond in a county where it has long held ground.

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