The new 22-member Kenyan government will take the oath of office on Thursday, one day after being confirmed by parliament. President William Ruto created the office of prime cabinet secretary and kept one minister from his predecessor’s cabinet as a national security adviser.
Njuguna Ndung’u, a former head of the central bank, will take over as treasury secretary, and Justin Muturi, a former speaker of the house of representatives, will become attorney general.
The president appointed members of his political allies to cabinet positions. Despite saying the government would be gender-balanced, Mr. Ruto only proposed seven women for the 22 open ministerial seats, including two for positions as presidential advisers and one for a cabinet secretary.
The immediate concerns of the incoming administration will be the rising cost of living and the resulting food shortage. The president stated on Tuesday that it will take at least a year to lower the cost of maize flour, the country’s national staple.
