Kenya’s President Ruto Fires Entire Cabinet

Kenya’s President William Ruto, facing the biggest crisis of his two-year presidency, has dismissed his entire cabinet except for the foreign minister. This decision comes in response to nationwide protests against planned tax hikes that turned violent last month, resulting in at least 39 deaths.

Addressing the nation in a televised broadcast, President Ruto stated, “I will immediately engage in extensive consultations across different sectors and political formations and other Kenyans, both in public and private, with the aim of setting up a broad-based government.” He also dismissed the attorney general but maintained that the office of the deputy president was unaffected.

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The youth-led protests, initially peaceful, escalated into violent clashes with police. Demonstrators briefly stormed parliament, prompting Ruto to abandon the proposed tax increases. The sweeping cabinet changes have been welcomed by veteran anti-corruption activist John Githongo, who hopes the new ministers will address significant issues, including corruption and the administration’s arrogance.

Ruto is navigating between the demands of international lenders, like the International Monetary Fund (IMF), who urge deficit reduction, and a populace struggling with rising living costs. The tax rollback may cause Kenya to miss IMF targets, although the government does not currently have due debts. The budget deficit for the fiscal year starting July 1 is projected at 4.6% of GDP.

Ojango Omondi, a community activist from the Social Justice Centres Working Group in Nairobi, hailed the cabinet dismissal as a “move towards justice” but emphasised the importance of appointing accountable and law-abiding individuals to the new cabinet.

President Ruto’s announcement follows a period of intense public dissatisfaction and comes after he withdrew a controversial tax bill due to widespread protests. The president stressed that government operations would continue uninterrupted under senior civil servants’ supervision.

The move to dissolve the cabinet is unprecedented, coming less than two years into Ruto’s presidency. Analysts suggest that he will need to name a new team soon to avoid further unrest, especially among the aggrieved youth. Ruto’s decision echoes the actions of former President Mwai Kibaki, who dissolved his entire cabinet in 2005 after losing a referendum.

Three of the sacked ministers, including Aden Duale and Soipan Tuya, expressed gratitude and understanding of the president’s decision, emphasising the need for national interest to prevail.

Ruto has faced ongoing pressure from anti-government protests demanding greater accountability and transparency. Although he agreed to withdraw the tax hikes, protests persisted, with demonstrators calling for reduced government spending and more significant action against corruption.

In response to the protests, Ruto announced austerity measures and a freeze on proposed pay rises for cabinet members and parliamentarians. Despite these measures, public dissatisfaction continued, with some protesters calling for Ruto’s resignation.

Ruto has hinted at the possibility of co-opting opposition figures to form a broad-based government. On Tuesday, he met with opposition leader Raila Odinga and announced plans to establish a 150-member dialogue panel to address the crisis. However, young protest organisers have rejected this plan, insisting on the disbandment of the current cabinet and punitive measures against corrupt officials.

The success of Ruto’s decision to dismiss the cabinet will depend heavily on the effectiveness and integrity of the new appointees. Critics have warned against reappointing any of the sacked ministers, stressing the need for fresh, accountable leadership.

As the nation awaits the announcement of the new cabinet, planned demonstrations continue to signal ongoing public dissatisfaction. Protest organiser Hanifa Farsafi expressed pride in the power of the people, highlighting the significant impact of civic action in driving governmental change.