Junet, Joho, Mbadi: Unlikely faces of the new Ruto defence forces

What a difference two years makes in politics! President William Ruto, the once acclaimed saviour of the masses, has now been visibly shaken following months of criticism over his administration and is now turning to unlikely allies to defend his policies amid a barrage of attacks from the public.

Cabinet Secretaries Hassan Ali Joho (Mining), John Mbadi (Treasury) and Suna East MP Junet Mohamed have become the President's new defenders, seeking to overturn the public's disaffection that has risen owing to policies deemed unfavourable to the common mwananchi.

Once government critics, the former opposition-allied ODM party members are now giving the government a clean bill of health after joining the broad-based system administration in mid 2024.

It has been a rough ride for CS Mbadi who is ailing to explain the state of affairs that he once boldly maligned.

Once terming Ruto's Cabinet as “skunks,” the man who was once a thorn in Ruto's flesh, is now trying to defend the government's fiscal policies.

"The problem now is the middle class who feel they don't have money in their pockets, that is the work Mbadi has been given so that we improve the pay-slips," Mbadi said recently.

"Give me one year and we make sure there are some changes in the tax laws, positive and progressive ones to make sure there's more money in the pockets. It is not something to condemn the President about, it is something to look solutions for."  

Another new frontline defender is lawmaker Junet, who recently elicited an uproar over his sentiments that called for removing public participation to fast-track development projects.

He also reiterated the same remarks on December 3, 2024, when he expressed how the opposition was singing to the same tune as the Kenya Kwanza government.

"Mambo ya Affordable Housing, na mengi yalikuwa katika manifesto yetu na sisi kama upinzani tumesema kama mambo ilikuwa katika manifesto yetu, hakuna kitu ya kupinga," Junet said during the groundbreaking ceremony for Devki Iron Processing Project in Taita Taveta County on Tuesday.

While responding to his proposal to scrap public participation; he pointed out that, "Huwezi kufunga mdomo yangu. Jana nimeongea Taita Taveta na watu wananirukia, bwana mdomo ni yangu, siasa ni yangu. Nasema my politics, my choice."

At the epitome of the political storm, Joho has also come to Ruto's aid; chastising those on social media for hurling insults towards the presidency.

Previously known for being vocal against the President, Joho now turned a new leaf following his appointment to the Cabinet.

The CS has labelled Kenyans using social media platforms to criticise the government as unpatriotic and warned of potential consequences for such posts. 

"I want to tell the young people, nchi haiwezi pelekwa namna hiyo. Wewe unakaa kwa mtandao, unakosa uzalendo; you become so unpatriotic. Wengine wanasema Raila Odinga aanguke African Union," Joho stated on Tuesday.

"How unpatriotic can you be as Kenyans that even one of your own ako na nafasi ya kuongoza pahali pazuri, kwa sababu ya kisiasa ya kizembezembe mnaanza kusema he must fall? We will come for you my friend."

Despite not unveiling the consequences, Joho's remarks are akin to the reports of the government attempting to purchase a Ksh.120 million software that aimed at spying on Kenyans and manage negative comments online. 

As the leaders attempt to protect Ruto's administration from utter humiliation, only time will tell if the tides will soon turn in their favour.