President Ruto Plans Inclusive Government After Cabinet Reshuffle
Written By: Edward Dictionary Caulker
Kenyan President William Ruto has today dismissed his cabinet with immediate effect, except for the Chief Cabinet Secretary and the Vice President. This move comes after weeks of protests by youth following the government’s decision to raise taxes, purportedly to help reduce the country’s debt. The government subsequently withdrew the Finance Bill 2024 and announced measures to reduce the public wage bill.
On June 13, Kenya presented its budget for the financial year 2024/2025, amounting to approximately 30 billion U.S. dollars, focusing on sustaining economic growth expected to reach 5.5 percent in 2024, according to the National Treasury. The withdrawn Finance Bill 2024, which ignited the youth protests, aimed to generate an additional 2.67 billion dollars through new taxes.
The protests, led by Generation Z, began as peaceful demonstrations in cities and towns across Kenya and online after the Finance Bill 2024 was introduced in parliament on June 18. These protests eventually escalated into a broader demand for governmental change.
In announcing the changes on Thursday, Ruto stated that only his Deputy, Rigathi Gachagua, and Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, who holds the Foreign Affairs docket, would remain in their positions. “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, I have decided to dismiss with immediate effect all the Cabinet Secretaries and the Attorney-General from the Cabinet of the Republic of Kenya except the Prime Cabinet Secretary and the Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs,” Ruto said. “My Deputy is not affected.”
Ruto announced that Principal Secretaries would manage the respective ministries until a new cabinet is appointed. He also pledged additional measures, indicating further government restructuring likely to affect more inefficient officials.
The changes come after sustained pressure from Generation Z youths, who demanded an overhaul of the government, particularly targeting Cabinet Secretaries they deemed ineffective. Initially, the protests were a response to the controversial Finance Bill 2024 but quickly evolved into calls for a complete governmental overhaul, with some protesters chanting “Ruto Must Go.”
The protests, which saw tens of thousands of youths take to the streets, led to clashes with police forces and tragic outcomes. More than 40 protesters were killed, and over 300 others were injured in some of the worst police brutality the country has seen, sparking widespread condemnation both locally and internationally.
After several days of rallies, the demonstrations turned violent, with protesters attempting to storm the parliament building. Businesses in several cities were looted and vandalized as protesters expressed outrage over the bill’s provisions, which would have raised taxes on essential goods and services such as bread and mobile money transfers to meet the government’s revenue targets.
Ruto emphasized that his decision was made after considerable reflection and listening to the demands of Kenyans.
