By John Kariuki
Two Cabinet Secretaries have hit back at former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua over his claims that President William Ruto is running the government single-handedly while sidelining his ministers.
Tourism and Wildlife Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano and Lands, Housing, and Urban Development Cabinet Secretary Alice Wahome dismissed Gachagua’s remarks as misguided and outdated, stating that their focus is on delivering development, not engaging in political theatrics.
Miano condemned Gachagua’s characterization of ministers as mere figureheads, calling it an insult to professionals serving in government.
“Referring to qualified and experienced professionals, both men and women, as ‘flower girls’ is crude and disrespectful. Flower girls play a noble role in weddings, symbolizing new beginnings. Using the term in a derogatory manner is an outdated display of male chauvinism,” she said.
She emphasized that the silence of most Cabinet Secretaries on political issues should not be misinterpreted as weakness but as a sign of commitment to their duties.
Speaking separately in Nairobi, Wahome dismissed Gachagua’s claims as the rantings of a frustrated man who failed in his role.
“All Cabinet Secretaries are powerful in their respective dockets. Our authority is not in making political statements but in delivering results. I am launching markets because I am in charge of my docket. We don’t have time for someone who failed to work when given a job,” Wahome stated.
She also challenged Gachagua to present any evidence of corruption in the Affordable Housing Programme to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), dismissing his claims that government officials were benefiting illegally from the project.
“Procurement is public. If Gachagua has evidence of corruption, he should report it to EACC instead of misleading Kenyans,” Wahome asserted.
She reassured Kenyans that the Affordable Housing Programme is transparent and has created numerous job opportunities, with the first 4,000 units set to be handed over in early 2025.
Gachagua has repeatedly claimed that President Ruto operates as a “one-man show,” reducing Cabinet Secretaries to mere rubber-stamp figures.
“These ministers you see are just flower girls—they have no say in anything. Even changing the Cabinet is pointless unless the president himself changes,” Gachagua alleged.
However, the two Cabinet Secretaries have made it clear that they are fully in charge of their ministries and focused on delivering on their mandates, not engaging in political distractions.