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Ruto to form broad-based government to eliminate wastage, fight corruption and cut the national debt.
Nairobi, Kenya | THE INDEPENDENT & XINHUA | Embattled Kenyan President William Ruto has dissolved his cabinet with immediate effect, leaving out only Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and Prime CS Musalia Mudavadi.
“Upon reflection and listening keenly to what the people of Kenya have said and after holistic appraisal of the performance of my Cabinet and its achievements and challenges, I have today in line with the powers given to me by the constitution, decided to dismiss with immediate effect all the CSs and AG except the PCS and CS for Foreign Affairs. Ofcourse the office of the DP is not affected in any way,” Ruto said.
This comes after weeks of protests by youth after government raised taxes, supposedly to help raise funds to cut the country’s debt. Soon after the protests, government recalled the Finance Bill 2024, and announced several measures to reduce the public wage bill.
The Kenyan president said he is listening to the calls of citizens for a reduction in public expenditure and corruption. He promised he will set up a broad based government and announce additional reforms soon.
Ruto added that, “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 that will assist me in accelerating and expediting the necessary urgent and irreversible implementation of the program that we have to deal with the burden of debt.”
On June 13, Kenya presented its about 30 billion U.S. dollars budget for the financial year 2024/2025, which focused on sustaining economic growth expected to reach 5.5 percent in 2024, according to the National Treasury.
The withdrawn Finance Bill 2024, which sparked youth protests, sought to raise an additional 2.67 billion dollars through new taxes.
The protests, led by Gen Zs as they are referred to, began as largely peaceful demonstrations in cities and towns across Kenya and online after the Finance Bill 2024 was introduced in parliament on June 18.
After several days of rallies, the demonstrations turned violent across the country, with protesters attempting to storm the parliament building.
Businesses in several cities were looted and vandalized. Protesters expressed outrage over provisions of the bill that would raise taxes on essential goods and services, such as bread and mobile money transfers, to meet the government’s revenue targets.
State House, Nairobi. https://t.co/GmM8dgOxvS
— William Samoei Ruto, PhD (@WilliamsRuto) July 11, 2024
This is the first time in 19 years that an embattled Kenyan president has fired his entire cabinet. The last occurrence was in 2005 when President Kibaki did so after Kenyans rejected a constitution he supported.
Kenya’s cabinet as at July 10, 2024
- Njuguna Ndung’u: National Treasury and Planning
- Onesmus Kipchumba Murkomen: Roads and Transport
- Aisha Jumwa: Gender, Culture, the Arts & Heritage
- Aden Duale: Defence
- Alice Wahome: Lands, Public Works, Housing & Urban Development
- Alfred Mutua, EGH: Tourism & Wildlife
- Moses K. Kuria, HSC: Public Service, Performance & Delivery Management
- Rebecca Miano: Investments, Trade & Industry
- Kithure Kindiki: Interior and National Administration
- Roselinda Soipan Tuya: Environment and Forestry
- Zachariah Mwangi Njeru: Water, Sanitation & Irrigation
- Peninah Malonza, OGW: East African Community, The ASALs & Regional Development
- Mithika Linturi: Agriculture and Livestock Development
- Ezekiel Machogu: Education
- Davis Chirchir: Energy and Petroleum
- Ababu Namwamba: Youth Affairs and Sports
- Simon Chelugui: Co-operatives and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Development
- Salim Mvurya: Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs
- Florence Bore: Labour and Social Protection
- Eliud Owalo: Information, Communications and the Digital Economy
- Susan Nakhumicha Wafula: Health
- Mercy Kiiru Wanjau: Secretary to the Cabinet
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