Raila Reacts to Reports of 'Imminent' Cabinet Reshuffle by President Kenyatta

Opposition chief Raila Odinga has reacted to reports claiming that he is closely working with President Uhuru Kenyatta in an imminent major reshuffle to the Cabinet.

Reports appearing on sections of local media said the two are working on a major shake up that will see at least four Cabinet Secretaries sent home in the wake of an ongoing purge on corrupt State officers.

Also to be fired are Principal Secretaries whose ministries have been adversely mentioned in corruption, the reports further claimed. In the new team, the papers reported, Odinga's allies will be appointed to replace those who will face the axe.

However, in a statement sent to newsrooms through his spokesperson Dennis Onyango, Raila rubbished the reports as “malicious and meant to undermine the war against graft.”

“Raila Odinga has read with deep concern and disappointment reports appearing in the Standard Newspaper of an alleged looming reshuffle in government as a result of the ongoing corruption probe and his hand in the so-called reshuffle,” reads the statement.

“Mr. Odinga takes great exceptions to this attempt by the Standard to use his name to provide refuge to the corrupt by implying that the crackdown on graft is merely an attempt by him to take “his people” into government. He finds the reporting malicious, retrogressive and diversionary and merely meant to undermine the war on graft while failing to take cognizance of the interest of the Kenyan public.”

The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader maintained he will offer full support to the President in the war against corruption.

“He fully backs the current crackdown on individual State officers and business people over the loss of billions of public funds and fully supports the tough stand by President Uhuru Kenyatta on this matter,” the statement further reads.