President William Ruto has issued an Executive Order on the organisation of the Government through which he has re-assigned functions and institutions to ministries and State departments.

This is the first executive order Ruto has issued since he was sworn into office and is in line with his administration’s transformative plan for the country.

The order that was issued in a press release on Monday outlined the key roles of members of his administration.

“IT IS NOTIFIED that HIS EXCELLENCY HON. WILLIAM SAMOEI RUTO, PhD, CGH, has issued Executive Order No. 1 of 2023 on the organization of the Government,” the statement read.

According to the notice, the Executive Order is issued following the full constitution of the Cabinet, the ranks of Principal Secretaries in all Ministries/State Departments, and the other senior ranks of the Executive. 

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“The Executive Order re-assigns functions and institutions to Ministries and State Departments in line with the Administration's transformative plan for the Nation,” the notice read.

“Executive Order No. 1 of 2023 supersedes Executive Order No. 1 of 2022 issued on 12th October, 2022. A copy of Executive Order No. 1 of is forwarded herewith.”


The following are some of the key changes Ruto has made through the Executive Order:

• The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has been moved from the Interior Ministry and reverted to the Roads and Transport ministry while the State Departments of Housing & Urban Development and of Public Works have been moved from the Transport Ministry to the Lands Ministry.

• The Head of State has also added Kenya Coast Guard as an institution under the State Department for Interior Security and National Administration.

• In the Executive Order, Ruto has placed the Hustler Fund under the State Department for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSEES) which will oversee the administration of the fund.

• Ruto has also added one more State Department to the Ministry of Investment and Trade and now the ministry has three state departments, namely State Department for Investments Promotion, State Department for Trade, and State Department for Industry.

• The Tourism Ministry has also received one more State Department and now there are three State Departments in that ministry; State Department for Investments Promotion, State Department for Trade, and State Department for Industry.

• Ruto has also unveiled the Directorate of e-Citizen services in the State Department for Citizen Services.

• The Ministry of Environment has also been split into the State Department for Environment and Climate Change and the State Department for Forestry.

• The National Youth Service (NYS) has been moved from the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs to the Ministry of Public Service.

• Ruto has also given Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua a new role in the Coffee sector. "Office of the Deputy President, key offices and institutions: The Coffee Sub-Sector Reforms Implementation Standing Committee," the Executive Order read.

• The Government Delivery Unit (GDU) in the Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has also been renamed the Government Delivery Service (GDS).