President William Ruto has established seven new State Departments and reassigned critical government functions under a sweeping reorganisation of the Executive. The changes, contained in Executive Order No. 1 of 2025, were formally communicated in a circular dated June 9, 2025, by Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service Felix Koskei.
This Executive Order repeals Executive Order No. 2 of 2023 and codifies extensive structural shifts aimed at enhancing efficiency, coordination, and service delivery across government ministries.
Among the newly formed State Departments are the State Department for National Government Coordination, Science, Research and Innovation, Public Investments and Assets Management, Special Programmes, Children Services, Justice, Human Rights and Constitutional Affairs, and Aviation and Aerospace Development. These departments reflect a deliberate focus on governance, innovation, rights-based service delivery, and Kenya’s growing interest in aerospace advancement.
The reorganisation also sees the transfer of the State Department for Performance and Delivery Management to the Executive Office of the President, reinforcing Ruto’s commitment to results-driven governance.
Key ministerial changes include the Ministry of Public Service, Human Capital Development and Special Programmes, now tasked with overseeing both the Public Service and Special Programmes departments. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Roads and Transport will manage Roads, Transport, and the newly formed Aviation and Aerospace Development department.
The newly created State Department for Justice, Human Rights and Constitutional Affairs will fall under the Office of the Attorney-General, signalling a renewed emphasis on legal and human rights matters.
The Executive Order also incorporates recent Cabinet appointments, senior executive reassignments, and top-level changes in national security leadership. It aligns with the enactment of new laws and statutory amendments over the last two years.
Importantly, the National Treasury has been directed to align the 2025/26 fiscal year budgets with the revised ministerial portfolios and mandates, ensuring that financial allocations support the updated government structure.
President Ruto’s move is seen as a strategic step to streamline government functions and foster a modern, responsive public sector aligned with the administration’s long-term development goals.
