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Kenyan President William Ruto has dismissed almost his entire cabinet following weeks of intense anti-government protests, he announced Thursday. The decision leaves only Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi in their posts.
Speaking from State House Nairobi, Ruto said the decision was made after "reflection, and a holistic appraisal" of his cabinet. He emphasized that despite progress, the high expectations of the Kenyan people necessitated significant changes to meet their demands for extensive national transformation.
"Even with the progress we've made, I'm acutely aware that the people of Kenya have very high expectations of me, and they believe that this administration can undertake the most extensive transformation in our nation's history," Ruto said.
The president is now engaging in "extensive consultations" to form a new, "broad-based" government. This comes in the wake of violent protests triggered by a controversial tax bill, which led to Ruto withdrawing the Finance Bill entirely at the end of June after deadly clashes that resulted in numerous fatalities.
Ruto acknowledged that the recent upheaval had brought the country to an "inflexion point" requiring decisive action. He plans to engage with various sectors and political groups to establish a more inclusive government that can address the pressing issues facing Kenya.
"I will immediately engage in extensive consultations across different sectors and political formations, with the aim of setting up a broad-based government," Ruto stated.
The president aims for the new government to implement "radical programs" focused on debt management, job creation, reducing government inefficiencies, and tackling corruption. Despite the cabinet overhaul, Ruto assured that government operations would continue uninterrupted and promised to announce additional measures in the near future.
By taking this drastic step, Ruto seeks to restore stability and confidence in his administration, hoping to address the grievances that have fueled public discontent and violent protests. The formation of a new, inclusive government is seen as a critical step toward achieving these goals and meeting the high expectations of the Kenyan populace.
