Political commentator George Diano has claimed that significant power shifts have occurred within President William Ruto’s inner circle, alleging that figures once viewed as influential have been pushed to the margins following last year’s anti-government protests.
In a social media post, Diano suggested that intelligence warnings about rising political tensions prior to the June demonstrations were overshadowed by what he described as informal advisers wielding outsized influence at State House.
He portrayed Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi and political operative Farouk Kibet as central figures in informal decision-making structures, arguing their prominence may have diluted professional security assessments.
Diano contrasted this with the role of Nordin Hajji, the Director-General of the National Intelligence Service, suggesting the spy chief remained focused on national security threats, including terrorism concerns linked to Al-Shabaab, while political actors dominated the governance space.
According to the commentator, the June 25 protests marked a turning point, transforming what had been treated as manageable dissent into a full-scale political crisis.
He claims the aftermath triggered a quiet restructuring within the president’s advisory network, with some figures reportedly losing proximity to power.
Diano further argued that Farouk Kibet’s political visibility has diminished, alleging that his current grassroots mobilisation efforts contrast sharply with his previous public influence, when he was perceived to wield authority across government ranks.
He also suggested a broader reduction in political rhetoric from vocal allies previously known for forceful public messaging.
Despite the alleged shake-up, the analyst contends that access to State House remains fluid, comparing its political activity to an open marketplace where competing political events and interests converge.
He singled out Hajji and National Security Adviser Monica Juma as key institutional figures maintaining stability within the administration, while warning that informal power networks can quickly rise and fall.