Kenya president sacks cabinet ministers after deadly protests

Kenyan President William Ruto has dismissed with immediate effect all his ministers and the attorney-general.

It follows the recent protests that led to the withdrawal of an unpopular tax bill and killed at least 39 protestors.

The president said the move came after “reflection, listening to Kenyans, and after holistic appraisal of my cabinet”.

He has said he will now consult widely in order to set up a broad-based government.

The dissolution of his cabinet does not affect the deputy president, who can’t legally be fired, and the prime cabinet secretary who is also the foreign affairs minister.

– Advertisement –

In a hotly anticipated speech at the presidential palace in the capital, Nairobi, on Thursday, Mr. Ruto defended the performance of his administration since his election in 2022, but said that the electorate expected more from his government.

He said that after listening carefully, he had decided to fire the cabinet secretaries with immediate effect, as well as the country’s attorney general.

Mr. Ruto said he would retain the foreign minister, Musalia Mudavadi, in the cabinet.

“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,” Mr. Ruto said.

The announcement is seen as a victory for the demonstrators. Its unclear if the protestors will still demand Mr. Ruto’s resignation after firing all the cabinet ministers.

Source: Africafeeds.com