Speaking recently after the swearing in ceremony of Cabinet Secretaries (CSs), Ruto did not mince words; telling spouses of new CSs that their partners may sleep in office, or get home very late, due to their demanding jobs.

“You will be leaving your office late. Spouses please understand these people because they will be sleeping in the office in the next couple of months,” Ruto said.

The Constitution of Kenya allows a maximum of 22 ministries under Article 152 and sets the minimum number to 14. A Cabinet Secretary is not a Member of the Kenyan Parliament and has to be vetted by a parliamentary committee before their appointment.

 

 

Only seven women made it to President Ruto’s Cabinet line-up raising questions of gender imbalance in the new cabinet. In June, in the run-up to the August polls, Ruto signed a charter with women at Nyayo Stadium. He promised them 50 per cent of his Cabinet.

 

Ruto’s message to CSs was interpreted by many commentators as an indicator of a new president who wants to break from the usual routine and run the country at supersonic speed.

 

Ruto appears to be a results oriented leader who wants government officials to work and serve Kenyans. He vowed to run an inclusive, transparent and accountable government as he aims to transform the regional powerhouse.

 

"We have no grey areas, we have nothing to hide. We want to serve the people of Kenya," he said. Currently, he appears to be a man who wants to do things differently, and in an organized manner.

 

On November 2, while presiding over a ceremony to hand over the national flag to the Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) contingent to be deployed in eastern DRC under the East African Community Regional Force, Ruto surprised many when he offered a public prayer seeking divine intervention in their tough mission. Among the four former presidents who served before him, no one had ever offered a public prayer for God’s intervention in KDF peacekeeping operations or any other government business. 

Barely two months after he was sworn in, Ruto disbanded the Directorate of Criminal Intelligence’s (DCI) Special Service Unit accusing it of carrying out extrajudicial killings.

 

“I am the one who ordered that the Special Service Unit, which was conducting extrajudicial killings, be disbanded. We have a plan on how to secure this country so that we avoid the shame of Kenyans being killed [by the police and their bodies dumped] in Yala River and others. We are going to change this country for the better,” President Ruto said while addressing a thanksgiving service in Kericho on October 15.

 

Sources privy to the disbandment of DCI's Special Service Unit believe that the decision was precipitated by an investigation report on the disappearance of two Indian nationals and their local taxi driver whose bodies were later found dumped in a forest.

Before cabinet was sworn in, President Ruto commissioned affordable housing projects in Kibera, Ongata Rongai and at Mukuru. The target is to construct 200,000 houses contrary to the last five years where about 2,000 houses were constructed.

The President said his main aim is to bring to an end the slum areas, raise the standards of living of low income earners and reduce the two million housing deficit in the country.

The houses will allow month-end payments from as low as Ksh. 2,400 for a one bedroom apartment. The masses were  assured that after duly paying Ksh. 2,400 per month in a span of 20 years, one will assume house ownership.

During his inauguration at Kasarani Stadium Ruto promised to avail 1.4 million bags of subsidized fertilizer. A month later, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua flagged off a consignment of subsidized fertilisers to various parts of the country.

 

The act of bringing down the cost of fertilizers raised hopes for many farmers across the country. Finally they had a government that listens to their problems and takes action, without delay.    

 

Although Ruto has not managed to fulfill his campaign pledge of bringing down cost of living in 100 days, his approval rating remains high and has won hearts of many Kenyans who believe that he is a hands on President who listens, is God fearing, result oriented, and able to put his cabinet on a working mode of doing things in an extra ordinary way and different from the past governments.

 

However, the big question that remains is whether the President will be able to make a difference by tackling corruption and bringing the big fish to book.