|
LISTEN TO THIS THE AFRICANA VOICE ARTICLE NOW
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
President William Ruto Thursday, July 11, 2024 dismissed the Cabinet to pave the way for the formation of a “broad-based Government”.
Ruto said he had acted after an extensive appraisal of the Cabinet performance.
“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,” said Ruto.
He promised to assemble a new team that would assist him in implementing “radical programmes to deal with the burden of debt, raising domestic resources, expanding job opportunities, eliminate wastage and unnecessary duplication of a multiplicity of government agencies and slay the dragon of corruption.”
Ruto noted that he will consult different sectors and political formations to identify those who will assist him in accelerating Kenya’s transformation.
In addition, the president said he was keen on the implementation of radical programmes to deal with corruption, debt, domestic resources, jobs and wastage in Government.
“During this process, the operations of government will continue uninterrupted under the guidance of Principal Secretaries and other relevant officials,” he said.
Speaking during a press conference at State House Nairobi, President Ruto said the offices of the Deputy President and Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs are not affected.
Ruto Highlights Successes Achieved so Far
Ruto also reflected on the achievements of his government over the past 22 months since his administration initiated the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda. He noted significant strides in food production, economic stability, and educational reform. “We have increased food production by reducing the cost of farm inputs, thereby lowering the cost of food and living,” he stated, adding that his administration has also “stabilized the economy by preventing what was an imminent debt default, stabilizing fuel prices, lowering inflation and stabilizing the foreign exchange regime.”
In the education sector, the President highlighted the resolution of uncertainties around the Competency Based Curriculum and the introduction of a new funding model for higher education focused on students from vulnerable backgrounds. He also celebrated the employment of thousands of new teachers and improvements in financial inclusion through initiatives like the Hustler Fund, which now boasts 22 million registrants.
Moreover, Ruto cited progress in public health with the expansion of Universal Health Coverage, infrastructure development in the form of housing units and industrial parks, and digital transformation evidenced by the proliferation of online government services and digital hubs.
“Even with the progress we have made, I am acutely aware that the people of Kenya have high expectations of me and believe that this administration can undertake the most extensive transformation in our nation’s history,” he said.
The move comes against a backdrop of intensifying public dissatisfaction, characterized by ongoing protests led by young Kenyans and widespread calls for governmental reform. Protesters have particularly criticized the government’s handling of economic policies, including previous tax increases intended to alleviate national debt. These increases were recently withdrawn by Ruto in response to public outcry, yet demands for reduced government spending and heightened accountability remain unmet.
In response, President Ruto has initiated several austerity measures, including a freeze on proposed pay rises for cabinet members and parliamentarians. However, these steps have not pacified the public, with continued calls for his resignation echoing across social media.
Shortly after Ruto’s speech, the names of all Cabinet Secretaries dismissed by the president were removed from the State House website. The Cabinet section of the website featured only the names and images of the President, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and Secretary to Cabinet Mercy Njau.
Reactions to President Ruto’s Cabinet Dissolution
Aden Duale, the former Defence Cabinet Secretary, took to his X social media account to express his gratitude towards President Ruto for the opportunity to serve in his administration.
“I extend my heartfelt gratitude to His Excellency President @WilliamsRuto for entrusting me with the role of Cabinet Secretary for Defence in the first Kenya Kwanza Administration,” he said.
“I am deeply honored and will forever be indebted to him and the people of Kenya for this opportunity to serve our great nation. As the Quran says, “But they plan, and Allah plans. And Allah is the best of planners” (Quran 8:30),” he added.
Prominent lawyer Donald Kipkorir, who has been known for his outspoken nature, revealed that he had advised President Ruto to dissolve the Cabinet earlier in the day. “Today morning, I advised President William Ruto to dissolve the Cabinet. Of the Cabinet only Prof. Kithure Kindiki should return. Some of them who were my friends became too arrogant & couldn’t even pick my calls. Now that they have been fired, I won’t pick their calls,” he stated.
Satirist Gabriel Oguda provided a more humorous take, noting a sudden change in the accessibility of the dismissed officials. “Saa hii ukijaribu kupiga simu ya CS ama PS by mistake inachukuliwa haraka upesi sana. People who were two weeks ago walking like they own the world are now perusing Bible verses you’d think Jesus is coming back tomorrow. They will not believe.”
Nairobi Senator and ODM Secretary-General celebrated the move, calling it “a solid start”.
Professor Makau Mutua, a renowned scholar and critic, offered a reflective thought on the nature of political positions. “YOU left your residence this morning as a Cabinet Secretary. You return home this evening as an ordinary citizen. Remember this — the HIGHEST office in the land is that of CITIZEN”.
Reuben Kigame, a former presidential aspirant, took a more critical stance, arguing that the problem lies not only with the Cabinet Secretaries but also with President Ruto himself. “The cabinet secretaries are a secondary problem. Our primary problem is President William Ruto. He is the one who appointed them. He too must go.”
An X user named Mr. Elmami echoed this sentiment, demanding accountability for each Cabinet member. “It is not enough to dissolve the cabinet. All those CSs need to be held accountable one by one. Every shilling they (mis)handled needs to be accounted for. Every decision they made needs to be publicly interrogated.”
Busia Senator Omtatah, during a Senate address, argued that the dissolution was merely superficial and called for the entire administration to step down. “I hear the cabinet has been dissolved or stuff like that, that is like putting balm on a wound, what we demand and what I think is that the entire Kenya Kwanza Administration led by President Ruto must vacate power,” he said.
“The ball stops with him and the call the President should go is a call that must be applied. Justice is crying out, our children have died, something that has never happened in this country and the President cannot continue sitting in power when the children have died,” he added.
Miguna Miguna, a fiery politician and lawyer, now based in Canada, provided a scathing critique on X, questioning the integrity of potential future appointments: “Zakayo William Ruto can and will appoint a worse bunch of crooks than the ones he has pretended to have fired. He can and will bring all or some of the rotten bunch back if we don’t force him out now,” he wrote.
“Rotten crooks like his Chief of Staff, advisors, police goons, IG, DCI, the illiterate enforcers like Farouk Kibet and abductors who visited my home last week dressed in overalls and pretending to be Kenya Power workers are still intact,” Miguna added.
LEAVE A COMMENT
You must be logged in to post a comment.