In the wake of President William Ruto’s surprising Cabinet reshuffle, tech entrepreneur Eddie Ndichu found himself at the center of controversy after a short-lived attempt to position himself for a potential Cabinet role.
On Thursday, July 11, President Ruto made headlines by dismissing his entire cabinet, sparing only Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi. This dramatic move, according to the president, was in response to recent developments in the country.
As news of the mass firing spread, several public figures took to social media to express their readiness to serve, effectively throwing their hats into the ring for the newly vacant positions. Among them was Eddie Ndichu, co-founder of Wapi Pay and the estranged husband of media personality Janet Mbugua.
Ndichu posted a cryptic tweet on X, stating, “I am ready to serve #Kenyans #Utumishi.” However, his bid for consideration was met with swift and harsh criticism from Kenyan netizens.
Many social media users were quick to remind Ndichu of past controversies, particularly referencing allegations of assault that have dogged him in recent years. The backlash was so intense that Ndichu promptly deleted the tweet, effectively withdrawing his implied interest in a cabinet position.
This isn’t the first time Ndichu has faced public scrutiny. In 2021, he stepped down from his position as a board member of the Association of Fintechs in Kenya following a widely publicized altercation at a Nairobi hotel.
This incident is only a snippet of the power of public memory and the role of social media in vetting potential leaders. As Kenya awaits President Ruto’s new Cabinet appointments, it’s clear that the public is eager to see individuals with clean records and strong moral standing take up these government roles.
President Ruto is yet to announce when (or if) he’ll appoint new cabinet secretaries.
