‘Team of rivals’: President Ruto references Abraham Lincoln as he defends bringing ODM into government

President William Ruto on Thursday said his constitution of a new Cabinet drawing members from the opposition in what he calls a “broad-based government” will steer the country towards inclusive and transparent leadership.

After dissolving his Cabinet on July 11 following weeks of deadly anti-government demonstrations, Ruto nominated Cabinet Secretary (CS) nominees comprising old members and new ones, among them notable opposition-allied names from the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party.

During the swearing-in of the new Cabinet at State House, Nairobi, the President exuded confidence that the new team is powered by “inclusive bi-partisanship that will accelerate and turbocharge the radical transformation of our economy and country.”

“This moment in the life of our nation calls on us to build a strong team of rivals to build a transformation agenda, the best chance of success and to enhance inclusivity in our national development,” Ruto said, a subtle reference to the book ‘Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln’.

The 2005 biography of Abraham Lincoln paints a portrait of the 16th U.S. President and some members of his Cabinet from 1861 to 1865.

Three of the members had previously run against Lincoln in the 1860 election and the account details Lincoln’s attempts to reconcile conflicting personalities and political factions towards abolition and victory in the American Civil War.

Ruto on Thursday said his new Cabinet, like that of one of America's greatest presidents; “brings together former political rivals into one selfless patriotic team.”

“The attainment of our nation’s potential has often been undermined by divisions arising from political competition… while competition is healthy and good, there is a moment where the interest of our nation is greater than that of a political formation,” he said.

Ruto added: “It is the reason I have reached out across the aisle to bring on board the knowledge, expertise and experience of deserving Kenyans though belonging to a different political formation.”

The President challenged his new Cabinet to uphold the high standards of integrity required of public officials, telling them Kenyans want a government “that maintains an enabling environment for them to succeed and stays out of their way while they go about their work.”

“Kenyans demand and are constitutionally entitled to servant leadership,” Ruto told the 19 CSs, “All levels of public service, from the Cabinet to the grassroots, have no choice but to live up to the truest standard of servant leadership.”

He added that with his new team, he will take “unprecedented steps” to ensure his government’s agenda is executed “with integrity, efficiency, transparency and inclusivity.”

He urged them to ensure that Kenyans receive the best services from the government efficiently, without discrimination and delay, and "to make the people of Kenya your first and only priority and to never let your interests come in the way of your duties."

As Ruto was overseeing the swearing-in of the new Cabinet ministers, a fresh round of anti-government protests was expected in the country as Kenyans continued to picket against his administration.

Dubbed the ‘Nane Nane March’ in line with the August 8 date, the protest is a continuation of last month and June’s demos, which began over increased taxation proposed in the now-scrapped Finance Bill 2024 but have since morphed into resistance against Ruto’s entire administration.

Protesters, mostly the youth, have been picketing against what they describe as the government's incompetence, corruption and wastage of public resources.

Additionally, a section of Kenyans has criticised Ruto’s inclusion of opposition politicians in his Cabinet as a tactic to weaken the opposition.

Some have termed the move ‘diversionary tactics’ to the real issues Kenyans have raised, as others call for the President to resign.