Kenya’s President William Ruto has dismissed his entire cabinet, except for the Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary, Musalia Mudavadi. This move comes after deadly youth-led protests against a proposed tax bill that aimed to raise over $2 billion in new taxes.
The protests, which resulted in at least 41 fatalities, forced the government to withdraw the contentious bill. In a televised address, President Ruto explained that his decision to dissolve the cabinet was made after careful reflection and a comprehensive assessment of his cabinet’s performance.
Ruto plans to engage in extensive consultations to set up a “broad-based government” that will address key issues such as debt, domestic resource mobilization, job creation, and corruption. Reports suggest he may form a “government of national unity” by including opposition figures in his administration, aiming to resolve the ongoing political crisis sparked by the youth protests.