Kenya’s Ruto Sacks Entire Cabinet In A Self-Preservation Move

Kenya’s besieged President William Ruto, Thursday, dismissed with “immediate effect” all his ministers and the attorney-general, following the recent deadly protests that led to the withdrawal of an unpopular tax bill.

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

“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 said, “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,”

Ruto hastily added, “of course, my deputy is not is not affected in any way.”

He said he would now consult widely with all stakeholders “across different sectors and political formations and other Kenyans, both in public and private” to set up a “broad-based government,” without indicating the timeline within which he would be naming a new government.

The dissolution of the cabinet, Ruto said does not affect the deputy president, who cannot, legally be fired, and the prime cabinet secretary who is also the foreign affairs minister.

The dramatic move is highly unusual, coming less than two years after he took office.

The last time an entire cabinet was dissolved was in 2005 when then-President Mwai Kibaki did so shortly after losing a referendum over a new constitution.

Ruto has been under pressure from Kenyans who have continued holding anti-government protests and demanding more accountability from the government, even though he agreed to withdraw his controversial tax rises.

Some of the protesters have been calling for his resignation as president, which presumably caused a series of dramatic actions including last week’s announcement of numerous austerity measures across varied government agencies.

After the protests, Ruto also ordered a freeze on proposed pay rises for members of his cabinet and parliament.