Powerful Cabinet Secretary Dr Fred Matiang’i has been officially delegated the role of chairing weekly Cabinet meetings by President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Most government business is now transacted through Cabinet subcommittees which meet regularly and report to Matiang’i.

In January this year, Uhuru appointed Matiang’i as chairman of the National Development Implementation and Communication Cabinet Committee.

Part of the committee mandate is to provide supervisory leadership throughout the delivery cycle of all national government programmes and projects.

However, Article 153 of the Constitution makes Cabinet Secretaries accountable to the president.

“Cabinet secretaries are accountable individually, and collectively, to the president for the exercise of their power and the performance of their functions,” Article 153 (2) states.

There has been speculation that the Cabinet could be split because of the differences between the head of state and his Deputy Dr William Ruto.

Ruto’s allies have also gone on the offensive, demanding a purge on CSs believed to be anti-Ruto.

However, the President has remained silent as there are fears that the infighting could hamper or stall service delivery.