Kenya: President Sacks Almost Entire Cabinet After Protests

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Facts

  • Kenyan Pres. William Ruto has dismissed his entire cabinet — except the prime cabinet secretary, who doubles as foreign affairs minister, and the deputy president — with immediate effect, pledging to form a broad-based government.1
  • This comes after weeks of nationwide protests against planned tax increases in the annual finance bill amid worsening economic conditions in the country, which widened into a broader anti-government campaign.2
  • Demonstrations began peacefully but descended into violence, with some protesters briefly storming parliament. At least 39 people have reportedly been killed in clashes with police.3
  • Last week, even after the unpopular tax hike bill had already been withdrawn, hundreds marched in Kenya's capital and largest city, Nairobi, and its second-largest city of Mombasa to call for Ruto to step down.4
  • This is the first time since 2005 — and under the new constitution — that a sitting president in Kenya has fired his cabinet ministers.5
  • The previous similar move took place when the late Pres. Mwai Kibaki lost a referendum in 2005 to the 'NO' camp, which was under the leadership of his then cabinet minister Raila Odinga.6

Sources: 1BBC News, 2Al Jazeera, 3Guardian, 4Breitbart, 5Africanews and 6The East African.

Narratives

  • Narrative A, as provided by Business Today Kenya. Pres. Ruto has taken a bold and surprising — and some might say desperate — move to try to restore public confidence in his government, bowing to pressure from protesters even if that may put his political base at risk. Though painful, this administration renewal is needed for Kenya to finally find stability and get out of this chaotic situation.
  • Narrative B, as provided by Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC). Ruto must understand that the only way for him to get Kenya out of this crisis is to respect the constitution and listen to the people. Firing his incompetent cabinet can, by no means, help solve these issues — especially when his chief secretary has been spared despite being unlawfully in office. He's only trying to buy time and avoid accountability.

Predictions