Kenya merges foreign ministry in cabinet changes

Kenyan President William Ruto has announced a major cabinet reshuffle placing the foreign affairs ministry under the chief minister's office and reassigning seven other ministers.

It comes after the president publicly criticised his ministers recently, accusing some of them of being clueless about their portfolios.

President Ruto says the changes are meant to "optimise performance and enhance service delivery as set out in the administration's manifesto".

The foreign affairs ministry will now be headed by the Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, with the previous minister Alfred Mutua now heading the tourism ministry.

Mr Mutua had in May said that Kenya had entered a deal for legal migration for work in Canada but the North American nation later denied such an agreement and warned against fraudulent immigration schemes.

In recent weeks, Mr Mutua has been the public face of Kenya's offer to deploy 1,000 policemen to Haiti.

Also affected is the former trade minister Moses Kuria, who will now head the public service ministry.

Mr Kuria has in recent times faced criticism over what has been seen as his arrogant approach when addressing the high cost of living crisis in Kenya.

He has also previously stirred controversy over his remarks against a Chinese-owned shop selling cheap household goods in Kenya. He was also recently snubbed by the US Trade Representative during her recent visit to Kenya.

Kenya has recently seen a series of opposition protests against the rising cost of living and tax hikes put in place by the government.