President Ruto’s unexpected removal of cabinet secretaries on July 11 was met with joyous public celebrations.
Gen Z protesters demanded the government’s complete dissolution of a cabinet they criticized as inept and lacking proactive measures for national progress.
Thursday’s event was not new to Kenya’s history as late president Mwai Kibaki had gone down the same path in 2005. The former president fired his Ministers.
Some of the actions that were presided over on Thursday have similarities and slight differences from the late President Kibaki’s actions.
In the 2005 referendum, the government lost to the ODM opposition, led by Raila Odinga, who urged Kenyan citizens to vote against it, showing no confidence in the government.
This led to the late President Kibaki firing 40 of his Ministers and their assistants whose seats would be filled in two weeks. Those who escaped the sacking were the then Vice President Mudi Awory and the Attorney General Amos Wako.
And now President Ruto sacked 21 cabinet secretaries, retaining only Musalia Mudavadi, the Prime Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs, who is also the cabinet of foreign affairs Musalia Mudavadi.
Unlike his predecessor, President Ruto did not retain the Attorney General with Justin Muturi sent packing. Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s office was unaffected by the changes.
As changes unfold in Kenya, Kenyans ponder whether the new secretaries will outperform their predecessors. Will the government truly enhance Kenya, or will history repeat itself?
President Ruto defended his dismissed cabinet for their good work despite public opinion in Kenya.
