Kenya president dismisses most of cabinet following anti-government protests

RFI
·1 min read

Kenyan President William Ruto has dismissed almost his entire cabinet and announced consultations to form a "broad-based government" after weeks of sometimes deadly anti-government protests against planned tax hikes.

Ruto said the move, announced on Thursday, affects all ministers including the attorney-general.

Only Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi have held onto their posts, the president said.

The East African nation was left reeling after peaceful rallies last month over steep tax increases flared into deadly violence with police firing at crowds who stormed parliament.

Led largely by young, Gen-Z Kenyans, the protests plunged Ruto's administration into the most serious crisis of his presidency, forcing him to abandon the tax hikes and scramble to contain the damage.

'Extensive transformation'

Ruto said his decision was taken "upon reflection, listening keenly to what the people of Kenya have said and after a holistic appraisal" of the performance of his cabinet, he told reporters from State House Nairobi.

Human rights organisations have denounced what they say is "excessive repression" by the government.

(with AFP)


Read more on RFI English

Read also:
Kenya rights groups decry abductions as government cracks down on protests
Kenya probes deadly violence that erupted during tax hike protests
Kenyan cult leader faces terrorism charges over mass starvation deaths

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