Kenyan President William Ruto has announced the dismissal of almost his entire cabinet following weeks of intense anti-government protests. In a press conference held at State House Nairobi on Thursday, President Ruto revealed that only Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi would retain their positions.
Ruto explained that the decision was made after careful consideration and a comprehensive evaluation of his cabinet’s performance. “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,” he stated.
The East African nation has been in turmoil after peaceful protests against steep tax increases turned violent last month. Demonstrators, led predominantly by young Kenyans from Generation Z, clashed with police, who fired on the crowds as they stormed and partially set fire to the parliament building.
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The protests, which initially focused on tax hikes, have expanded into a broader movement against Ruto’s administration, resulting in the most severe crisis of his presidency. In response to the escalating situation, Ruto was compelled to abandon the proposed tax increases and seek ways to mitigate the damage.
In an effort to calm the unrest, Ruto announced the sweeping cabinet dismissals, which include all ministers except for Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. “I decided on the dismissals upon reflection, listening keenly to what the people of Kenya have said, and after a holistic appraisal of the performance of my cabinet and its achievements and challenges,” Ruto explained.
Hanifa Adan, a prominent Gen-Z protester, praised the move, writing on social media platform X, “THE PRESIDENT OF KENYA HAS DISSOLVED THE CABINET!!! THE POWER LIES WITH THE PEOPLE ALWAYS!!!!!”
The protests, initially peaceful, have broadened into a larger campaign against Ruto and his government. Some demonstrations have turned violent, resulting in dozens of deaths. In a bid to address public discontent, President Ruto announced significant cuts to government spending last week, citing growing anger over extravagant cabinet travel and renovation expenses while ordinary citizens face a severe cost of living crisis.
Additionally, the government will need to increase its borrowing to maintain essential services amidst substantial foreign debt, which currently amounts to 70 percent of the GDP. The economic crisis prompted US-based Moody’s to downgrade Kenya’s debt rating further into junk territory, indicating a negative outlook. This downgrade will likely make borrowing more costly for the already cash-strapped government. Moody’s downgraded the ratings for Kenyan government debt to Caa1, reflecting Ruto’s “significantly diminished capacity” to raise taxes and reduce debt.
President Ruto’s bold move to dismiss his cabinet aims to restore public confidence and navigate the country through its current challenges. However, the administration faces an uphill battle as it seeks to stabilize the nation and address the demands of its citizens.
