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President William Ruto on Friday, July 19, 2024, announced the nomination of 11 new Cabinet Secretaries, marking a significant reshuffle following the unprecedented dismissal of his entire cabinet just eight days earlier. The move comes in the wake of intense youth-led protests demanding government accountability and change.
“Upon reflection and 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, I have today, in line with the powers given to me, 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 the cabinet secretary for foreign and diaspora affairs,” President Ruto said during the historical announcement on July 11, 2024.
The newly nominated Cabinet includes six former Cabinet Secretaries who were initially fired, now reappointed to different ministries. Only Prof. Kithure Kindiki and Aden Duale retained their previous roles in the Ministry of Interior and National Administration and the Ministry of Defence, respectively. The complete list of nominations is as follows:
- Ministry of the Interior and National Administration: Prof. Kithure Kindiki
- Ministry of Health: Dr. Debra Mulonga Barasa
- Ministry of Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development: Alice Wahome
- Ministry of Education: Julius Migosi Ogamba
- Ministry of Defence: Aden Barre Duale
- Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development: Dr. Andrew Mwihia Karanja
- Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry: Roselinda Soipan Tuiya
- Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation: Eric Muriithi Muuga
- Ministry of Roads and Transport: Davis Chirchir
- Ministry of Information, Communication and the Digital Economy: Margaret Nyambura Ndung’u
- Attorney-General: Rebecca Miano
“I am continuing to undertake consultations across the political divide on the balance of the Cabinet that I will appoint shortly. The consultations are at an advanced stage, and internal processes in various sectors are underway to facilitate my appointment of the balance of this Cabinet,” Ruto assured the nation during his address from State House. He added, “I will be issuing next week a clear roadmap on the assignment that the new Cabinet is going to have, with clear timelines and deliverables to harness the tremendous potential that exists in our nation and drive our country to greatness.”
The reappointment of six previously fired Cabinet Secretaries has sparked renewed outrage among the youth, who have been actively protesting against the Ruto administration. Many young Kenyans demand a complete overhaul of the Cabinet, accusing the current leadership of incompetence, corruption, and arrogance.
Social media quickly became a battleground, with the hashtag #TupataneTuesday trending as youth mobilized for major demonstrations. Another hashtag, #OccupyJKIA, gained momentum, signaling plans to disrupt operations at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. “We must finish what we started. Tupatane Tuesday,” posted Alinur Mohamed on X (formerly Twitter). Cornelius Ronoh echoed the sentiment: “Anyone associating himself or herself with that sinking ship called Kenya Kwisha is our public enemy. We are not here to play games. We mean what we say. Tupatane Tuesday!”
Blogger Lord Abraham Mutai differed with the planned protests saying, “Occupying JKIA is a good strategy by the donor activists. Considering their mayhem is no longer making headlines in western capitals that fund them, they know occupying an airport will generate the global news they want. The force the government must use tomorrow should be proportionate to the economic destruction these anarchists are perpetuating.”
Police Warn Against JKIA Invasion
Following reports of an impending plan by the anti-government demonstrators to camp at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) Monday evening, July 22, 2024 issued a notice to travelers planning to use JKIA on Tuesday, urged them to arrive early to avoid delays due to increased security measures.
“Due to heightened security checks and protocols at JKIA, passengers are advised to arrive at the airport early to avoid any potential delays in catching their flights. Kindly contact your respective airline for the latest flight information. Safe travels!” stated the KAA on Monday evening.
Late Monday, the National Police Service (NPS) also released a statement that emphasized the importance of adhering to security regulations at JKIA. The statement reminded the public of the strict enforcement of the Protected Areas Act, which prohibits unauthorized entry into certain areas of the airport.
“The Protected Areas Act Cap 204 Laws of Kenya prevents the entry of unauthorized persons into areas which have been declared to be protected areas,” the police statement read. “Protected Areas Order as clarified under its Legal Notice No. 9 of 2011, Second Schedule, include LPG Plant, the Bitumen Plant, and Petroleum depots situated at the Embakasi Aviation Depot (JKIA).”
Furthermore, the NPS warned that trespassing on any land forming part of a government aerodrome or an aerodrome licensed under the regulations made under this Act is a punishable offense.
The statement, signed by Acting Police Chief Douglas Karanja, concluded with a stern reminder: “The National Police Service is resolute in its commitment to uphold and enforce these laws.”
Ruto Vows to Stop the Gen Z Demonstrations
During a visit to Bomet on Sunday, July 22, President Ruto faced a hostile reception from youth chanting “Ruto must go,” forcing him to retreat. Later, while addressing the Bomet residents in a different location, with evident frustration, Ruto said, “Going forward, we will protect the nation. We will protect life, we will protect property. We will stop the looters, the killers, mayhem, and anarchy because Kenya is a democracy, and we want a peaceful, stable nation. Our issues are resolved using democratic means.”
Busia Senator and activist Okiya Omtata, in a veiled response to Ruto and via a press statement Monday, said the youth are only calling for accountability. “The demand by Gen Zs for accountability is not about one community taking over State power. When they demand that appointments be based on merit, it is not that they want jobs to be given to people from any particular community. When they speak out against a bad leader, they are simply demanding accountability from that individual.”
Azimio co-principal and Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka also defended the protesters, stating, “There are no anarchists. They are absolutely constitutional. We must all uphold the rule of law. How can you say that a young lady, a young man, armed with a bottle of water and a phone, is an anarchist? I don’t know how to thank Gen Zs. They have really liberated this country forever.”
Earlier Sunday morning, Azimio la Umoja Chief Raila Odinga released a statement addressing the youth. The statement seemed to support the opposition’s dialogue with the government while also supporting the Gen Z protests and their cause. “I agree that justice must come first before any talks.” He went on to list the items that must be addressed first before any dialogue. They include compensation for every victim of police brutality, dismissal of all protest-related cases, release of all abductees in jail among other demands.
However, many Gen Zs are now almost treating Odinga with the same contempt they have for Ruto, saying he is hijacking their cause for selfish gains. They have time and again shown dissatisfaction over his willingness to dialogue with Ruto, in an attempt to resolve the issues that the young people are raising.
“In a country whose median age is 19.5 to 20 , it is imperative on us to figure out our ‘now’,” said Kasmuel McOure, a youthful outspoken activist, who has almost come across as one of the faces of the Gen Z revolution in Kenya. “We cannot have ‘what next’ when we are still being killed extra-judicially. We cannot have a ‘what next’ when consistently the political class will wait for us to clamour for change and have them hijack our movement,” McOure told a journalist in a Kenyan TV, in response to a question vis-a-vis the ongoing protests.
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