Cabinet Secretaries, Principal Secretaries and Chief Administrative Secretaries (CASs) have been granted an 11-day cabinet working recess by President Uhuru Kenyatta.
During the recess period that commences on August 17 to August 28, 2020, Cabinet committees and technical committees will not have any scheduled engagements unless directed by President Kenyatta for urgent business, cases of national emergency, or any other exceptional circumstances.
In a memo dated August 12, 2020, penned by Head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua and addressed to all CSs, CASs, PSs and the Attorney General, cabinet members will be expected to conduct working tours, site visits and field engagements with members of the public in relation to ongoing development projects and government programs.
“…during the working recess, members of the cabinet will still be required to undertake their ministerial portfolio responsibilities and attend to any presidential engagements arising from or ancillary to their ministerial mandate…” said Kinyua in the memo.
President Kenyatta has also vacated an earlier order suspending upcountry tours by top government officials and recalling all Cabinet Secretaries back to Nairobi.
“…during the working recess, members of the Cabinet shall be allowed to take leave from office, subject to prior approval of the President and receipt of Presidential clearance with respect to any travel by the member of Cabinet to any destination outside of the territory of the Republic of Kenya…,” added Kinyua.
At the lapse of the 11-day Cabinet recess, the National Development Implementation and Communication Cabinet Committee, chaired by Interior CS Dr. Fred Matiang’i, will meet for the 27th time on September 1, 2020.
President Kenyatta is scheduled to chair a Cabinet meeting on September 3, 2020, according to Kinyua’s memo that was copied to Dr. Matiang’i and Interior PS Dr. Karanja Kibicho, who also chairs the National Development Implementation Technical Committee, as well as AG Paul Kihara Kariuki.
The cabinet working recess directive has sparked speculation of a looming cabinet reshuffle that has repeatedly been dismissed by State House.