Kenyans Demand Accountability: President Ruto Reshuffles Cabinet Amid Unrest

President William Ruto has taken the extraordinary step of dismissing nearly his entire cabinet in the wake of fierce protests against his government in Kenya.

This East African country is still grappling with the aftermath of rallies held last month. What started as peaceful demonstrations against steep tax hikes devolved into chaos, culminating in police clashing with protesters, resulting in some damage to parliament.

Mostly fueled by young Kenyans from the Gen-Z generation and organized through social media, these protests pushed Ruto into the gravest crisis of his presidency, compelling him to retract the contentious finance bill that proposed the tax hikes.

As part of his strategy to ease tensions, Ruto announced that the cabinet reshuffle would take effect “immediately,” encompassing all ministers and the attorney-general, while exempting prime cabinet secretary and foreign minister Musalia Mudavadi, along with Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

Ruto stated that this decision followed “careful reflection and attentive listening to the voices of the Kenyan populace, alongside a comprehensive evaluation of my cabinet’s performance and obstacles.”

Hanifa Adan, a prominent figure among the Gen-Z protesters, responded positively on X, exclaiming, “THE PRESIDENT OF KENYA HAS DISSOLVED THE CABINET!!! THE POWER LIES WITH THE PEOPLE ALWAYS!!!!!”

The protests have since evolved into a broader movement targeting Ruto’s administration, with some gatherings spiraling into violence that has tragically claimed 39 lives, per human rights organizations.

While the large-scale protests may have tapered off, widespread discontent remains. Hundreds gathered at a memorial concert in Nairobi, chanting, “Ruto must go.”

Experts suggest that Ruto’s decision to oust allies, including former interior minister Kithure Kindiki, could provide a fresh start, albeit with lingering risks.

Professor Gabrielle Lynch of the University of Warwick noted, “Ruto now faces the challenge of assembling a cabinet that acknowledges various stakeholders while diffusing the palpable anger associated with an increasingly directionless movement.”

Declan Galvin, managing director of Exigent Risk Advisory, articulated that “starting with a clean slate could benefit him… Every crisis brings an opportunity, so perhaps Ruto can find success this time around.”

Just last week, Ruto unveiled significant cuts to government expenditures, specifically targeting travel and renovation budget lines.

Citizens have grown irate at Ruto’s frequent lavish trips abroad and reports indicating that the deputy president’s office squandered over $70,000 on mere curtains, amidst a growing cost-of-living debacle.

He acknowledged that additional borrowing would be necessary to fund certain services, despite Kenya’s staggering foreign debt, which is approximately 70 percent of the nation’s GDP.

Ruto shared that the fiscal deficit was projected to rise from 3.3% to 4.6%.

This ongoing crisis led the US-based Moody’s to further downgrade Kenya’s debt rating, pushing it deeper into junk territory and issuing a negative outlook. Such a situation will inevitably make borrowing significantly pricier for the beleaguered government.

The rating agency decided to cut the ratings for Kenyan government bonds to Caa1, indicating a “very high credit risk,” attributing the move to Ruto’s “markedly decreased capacity” to raise taxes and manage debt effectively.

This businessman-turned-leader had campaigned in 2022 on the promise to enhance the lives of everyday individuals. He was caught unawares by the intense public backlash against the proposed tax hikes, following an earlier round of increases just last year.

In a bid to remedy the situation, Ruto announced on Thursday his intentions to “immediately undertake extensive consultations across various sectors and political organizations, with an aim to establish a coalition government.”

This coalition, he asserted, would assist in formulating “radical programs” to tackle the nation’s colossal debt, enhance job prospects, eliminate wasteful government spending, and “conquer the monster of corruption.”

In an effort to connect with the discontented youths, Ruto held an event on X last week, engaging with some protesters. However, this has failed to quell the demands for his resignation, with many rallying under the hashtag #RutoMustGo and organizing smaller demonstrations across urban centers in Kenya.