Karua: Everything going wrong because Ruto controls all ministries alone

The People’s Liberation Party Leader(PLP), Martha Karua, has blamed the current government’s challenges on President William Ruto’s centralised control of ministries, saying most Cabinet members and advisers are merely ceremonial.

Speaking in an interview on Friday, September 5, 2025, Karua said the concentration of power in the presidency has slowed the implementation of government programs, leaving Cabinet members with little authority to act independently. She argued that the system undermines accountability and effective governance.

Karua criticised the role of advisers and Cabinet members, saying their presence has minimal impact on decisions.

“You talk of advisers, Ruto is his own adviser. He is also the head of every ministry; everybody else is ceremonial. He advises himself. Those are just jobs he has given to his cronies. What is happening is the government is set up contrary to the Constitution. That is why everything is so wrong,” she said.

The former minister also addressed the role of Attorney General Dorcas Oduor, noting that the office has become largely symbolic.

“Even with a constitutional mandate, the AG’s interventions are minimal. Critical decisions are made by the presidency alone, leaving little room for independent legal guidance,” Karua explained, adding that the office last had a strong voice under Justin Muturi.

Reflecting on the broader situation, Karua said the government seems to create or get caught up in daily crises, making it difficult to focus on real governance.

“This regime lits fire every day. If we are not talking about the occupation process in Mandera by troops, we will be talking about goons in Nairobi. Today there is one scandal, tomorrow another. We must concentrate on real governance,” she said, highlighting a pattern of distractions that prevent ministries from performing effectively.