Ruto reorganises government, fate of Public Seal remains unclear

President Ruto installs the Public Seal of the Republic of Kenya to confer city status on Eldoret Municipality at the Eldoret Sports Club in Uasin Gishu County on August 15, 2024. [File Courtesy, PCS]

President William Ruto has reorganised his government by revoking Executive Order No. 2 of 2023 and issuing a new one, which is silent on who should hold the Public Seal, the whereabouts of which have now become a matter of litigation.

Under the former Executive order, the Chief of Staff and Head of the Public Service was named as the custodian of the Public Seal and other instruments of the State.

But in the Executive No 2 of 2025, it was not clear where the home of the Seal even as the government as tried in vain to introduce a National Government Coordination Bill to remove the Seal from the Office of the Attorney General to the Head of Public Office. In the new Executive Order, the Chief of Staff has been added new roles which include transmitting policy advisories by way of circulars to the public service and overseeing the administration of all State corporations and established public entities, as well as facilitate the resolution of operational challenges and major policy concerns as escalated as well as being responsible for the overall effectiveness of the Public Service.

The Executive Order sought to fortify the State coordination of interventions aimed at promoting constitutionalism and safeguarding human rights.

“The broad-based government is implementing the fourth medium-term plan of Kenya’s economic blueprint — Vision 2030 — as part of the revitalised plan espoused as the Bottom-Up Economic Agenda,” the Executive Order read in part.

Under the reorganisation, the Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary, headed by Musalia Mudavadi, will have five State departments, which include: National Government Coordination, Foreign Affairs, Diaspora Affairs, Parliamentary Affairs, and Science Research and Innovation.

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki will have control of two State departments — Cabinet Affairs and Devolution.

The National Treasury, headed by John Mbadi, will have Economic Planning and Public Investments and Assets Management departments.

A key feature in the Executive Order was the transfer of the functions of the State Department for Performance and Delivery Management to the Executive Office of the President.

The Executive Order also ratified new appointments to the Cabinet and senior ranks of the Executive, reassignments of State officers, and changes in the top command of the national security organs.

The Ministry of Public Service will now oversee the State Department for Public Service and Human Capital Development and Special Programmes.