The president of Kenya, President William Ruto has dismissed almost his entire cabinet and consultations to form a “broad-based government” following widespread anti-government protests.
Ruto who announced the dismissal on Thursday, said all the ministers including the attorney-general were affected, but excluded prime cabinet secretary and foreign minister Musalia Mudavadi and Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
He said the dismissals were based “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”.
The action was coming after largely peaceful protests led by young Gen-Z Kenyans who have widened into a broader campaign against Ruto and his government, with some demonstrations degenerating into deadly violence.
According to the president, he would “immediately engage in extensive consultations across different sectors and political formations, with the aim of setting up a broad-based government”.
Ruto said his administration would develop “radical programmes” to deal with the country’s huge debt burden, increase job opportunities, eliminate government waste and “slay the dragon of corruption”.
