KENYA: Ruto Fires Cabinet Ministers after Deadly Protests

Kenya president William Ruto has dissolved his cabinet, firing all his cabinet secretaries except Musalia Mudavadi, the Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs.

Also unaffected is Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who President Ruto cannot fire. Ruto’s dissolution followed deadly protests over tax proposals in the Finance Bill 2024.

The following ministers are now jobless:

1. Ababu Namwamba: Youth Affairs, Sport and Creative Economy
2. Aden Duale: Defence
3. Aisha Jumwa: Gender, Culture, Arts and Heritage
4. Alfred Mutua: Tourism and Wildlife
5. Alice Wahome: Lands
6. Davis Chirchir: Energy & Petroleum
7. Eliud Owalo: ICT and the Digital Economy
8. Ezekiel Machogu: Education
9. Florence Bore: Labour and Social Protection
10. Justin Muturi: Attorney General
11. Kipchumba Murkomen: Roads, Transport and Public Works
12. Kithure Kindiki: Interior and National Administration
13. Mercy Wanjau: Secretary to Cabinet
14. Mithika Linturi: Agriculture and Livestock Development
15. Moses Kuria: Public Service, Performance and Delivery Management
16. Njuguna Ndungu: Treasury
17. Peninah Malonza: EAC, Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs) and Regional Development
18. Rebecca Miano: Trade and Investments
19. Salim Mvuyra: Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs
20. Simon Chelgui: Co-operatives and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
21. Soipan Tuya: Environment and Forestry
22. Susan Nakhumicha: Health
23. Zacharia Mwangi: Water, Sanitation and Irrigation

Ruto said he had reflected on voices of Kenyans regarding how his government had performed.

“Upon reflection and after 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, in line with the powers given to me by Article 152:1 and 152:5:b of the Constitution and Section 12 of the Office of the Attorney-General Act, 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 Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs,” the president said at State House Nairobi.

So, what will President Ruto do next? The head of state explained that he will work towards the formation of a broad based government to steer the country forward amidst high debt and reduced revenue projections.

“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,” Ruto said.

“This includes other radical measures and programs, to deal  with the burden of debt, to explore raising domestic resources and revenues, expanding job opportunities, eliminating wastage and unnecessary duplication, over multiplicity of government agencies and slaying the dragon of corruption and consequently making the government of Kenya, lean, inexpensive, effective and efficient.”

From vowing to punish ‘dangerous criminals’ behind deadly protests, and describing protestors actions as ‘treasonous,’ Ruto has been steadily bowing to pressure from Gen Zs. Although he consequently withdrew the contentious Finance Bill, Kenyans began asking for more and now want him to resign. (See Details Here and There).  

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