Former Cooperatives CS Simon Chelugui Speaks Out After Dismissal, Criticises Ruto for Not Listening to Kenyans

Chelugui’s official biography shows a long career in public service. He served in various high-profile roles under the administrations of President Uhuru Kenyatta and then President Ruto. His appointment as Cabinet Secretary for Cooperatives and MSMEs was on 27 October 2022, and he held that position until 11 July 2024. During his tenure he was involved in major cooperative sector reforms and oversight, including taking bold action against institutions accused of financial mismanagement. One of the headline actions during his time in office was disbanding the board of the Kenya Union of Savings and Credit Cooperative Organization (KUSCCO) over alleged misappropriation of billions of shillings. Chelugui asserted that large cash withdrawals, irregular loans to senior staff, and other questionable financial practices had occurred. He then established an interim board, with controls to improve governance and restore confidence among cooperatives. These actions were widely covered and reliably attributable to him.

After his dismissal from the cabinet in mid-2024, there is public interest in what Chelugui thinks about the government, President Ruto, and the speed of reforms. Some media reports suggest that he has spoken in interviews about maintaining cordial relations with the presidency, that he does not harbor bitterness, and that he believes certain undertakings by the administration have proceeded slower than promised. However, I did not locate a verified transcript or direct quote from a widely verifiable source confirming every phrase used in those reports. It is thus prudent to treat elements such as “holds no bitterness”, “youth protests as cause of dismissal”, or “slow responsiveness” as reported claims, not fully confirmed.

It is well established that his dismissal came during a period of political turbulence. Mid-2024 in Kenya saw strong youth protests related to cost of living, taxation proposals, and the Finance Bill; these protests were significant in public discourse and may have contributed to pressures on the government. But there is no clear evidence from the sources I found that Chelugui himself has formally stated that those protests were the direct cause of his removal or that the Finance Bill issue was the specific tipping point under his own narration.

What can be said with confidence is that Chelugui has been a part of the reform narrative. He has voiced the need for accountability in cooperative institutions; he pushed reforms in sectors such as coffee; and he has criticized weak mechanisms, governance lapses, and sometimes slow implementation in aspects of cooperative legislation. For example, in earlier interviews and policy announcements, he emphasized reforms aimed at strengthening institutional frameworks and the legal infrastructure for cooperatives, including bills to improve regulation, oversight, and management.

In terms of his post-cabinet life, it is verified that Chelugui spoke in at least one interview with the Daily Nation where he described moving into private sector work including dairy farming and value addition, ranching, and involvement in energy and water projects. He also characterized his time in Cabinet as largely successful in terms of certain infrastructure achievements (for example, dams) and reforms.

When it comes to Chelugui’s reported sentiments about his relationship with President Ruto , that he holds it cordial, that he does not feel “in the cold” , I found no definitive record in mainstream media I surveyed. These may have been paraphrased or attributed in some outlets, but without a direct recording or a trusted transcript, they remain unverified phrases.

Analytically, Chelugui’s case reflects several themes common in Kenya’s recent political transitions: the balancing act between political accountability and administrative continuity; the pressures of public protest and youth discontent; the challenge of delivering ambitious reform agendas in the face of constraints such as legal bottlenecks, institutional capacity, public expectations, and the tempo of implementation. If Chelugui has indeed expressed concern about slow responsiveness, that is consistent with many voices in civil service and governance who claim that promises made in manifestos or national development plans often face delays in actual operationalization.

What remains for further verification:

• A full transcript or recording of the stated interview on TV47 ascribed to Chelugui, to confirm exact quotes about bitterness, relationship with the President, and causative factors for his dismissal.

• Evidence from Chelugui’s own speeches or writings confirming he tied his removal explicitly to the Finance Bill protests.

• Whether Chelugui has formally indicated in writing or speech that his perception is the administration has slowed down after an early burst of activity.

What is clear from existing data is this: Chelugui’s dismissal is a matter of public record; his past actions in office, especially in the cooperative sector, are well documented; and there is plausible reason to believe he may hold critical but respectful opinions about the pace and management of reforms. But many of the fine, personal quotes reported in media items are not yet verifiable in the sources I checked.