Kenya’s President William Ruto Shakes Up Government, Dismisses Ministers
In a surprising and unprecedented move, Kenya’s President William Ruto has announced the immediate dismissal of all his ministers and the attorney-general. The decision comes in the wake of recent deadly protests that forced the withdrawal of an unpopular tax bill.
President Ruto stated that the decision to dismiss his cabinet came after reflecting on the situation, listening to the concerns of Kenyans, and conducting a comprehensive evaluation of his government. He has pledged to consult widely in order to form a new, broad-based government.
Notably, the dissolution of the cabinet does not affect the deputy president, who cannot be legally fired, and the prime cabinet secretary who also serves as the foreign affairs minister. President Ruto assured that government operations will continue smoothly under the supervision of senior civil servants.
The move to dismiss the entire cabinet is highly unusual, especially coming less than two years after President Ruto took office. Three of the sacked ministers were former MPs who joined the cabinet just two years ago.
One of the dismissed ministers, Aden Duale, expressed gratitude to the president for the opportunity to serve as Kenya’s defence minister. The decision to dismiss the cabinet follows a cabinet meeting last week, which some local media outlets dubbed as the “last supper” for the ministers.
President Ruto has faced mounting pressure from Kenyans demanding more accountability from the government, despite agreeing to withdraw the controversial tax bill. Anti-government protests have continued, with some calling for the president to step down.
In response to the public outcry, President Ruto announced austerity measures across government agencies and froze proposed pay rises for cabinet members and parliamentarians. The president has not specified when the new government will be announced, but has promised to consult with various sectors and political formations in the process.
