Katiba Day: Ruto declines to commit to Cabinet changes over two-thirds gender rule

President William Ruto refrained from committing to altering his Cabinet to align with a High Court order mandating a gender quota of two-thirds women. During the Katiba @16 commemoration at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre in Nairobi on Thursday, August 27, 2026, Ruto seemed to avoid directly answering whether he would make any changes to his Cabinet following the court's ruling.

He alluded to the ongoing nature of the issue, likening it to Parliament's constitutional status, which he deemed a work in progress. In July, a three-judge High Court panel ruled that Ruto's Cabinet did not meet the constitutional requirement for gender representation, finding the Cabinet's composition in violation of Article 27(8) of the Constitution.

The court gave Ruto four months to reorganize the Cabinet and make it compliant with the Constitution. The petition challenging the Cabinet's legality was filed by the Katiba Institute, CREAW, Transparency International Kenya, Community Advocacy and Awareness Trust (CRAWN Trust), and World March of Women-Kenya. With only 42 days remaining before the court's deadline, Ruto's decision on Cabinet reformation could result in significant changes to the present line-up, potentially displacing some Cabinet Secretaries to meet the gender quota.

The situation also carries political implications for the Kenya Kwanza administration and the cooperative arrangement involving ODM, which has women candidates who could potentially be appointed to Cabinet positions if Ruto initiates a reshuffle. Ruto's remarks on Thursday left the question of whether his administration would fulfill the court's orders within the 120-day period or explore alternative legal or administrative approaches.

This issue places the President at the crossroads of constitutional compliance, court orders, and political considerations as Kenya prepares for the 2027 General Election.