On Friday, young Kenyans dismissed President William Ruto’s decision to sack most of his cabinet, threatening to resume street protests unless he steps down. Ruto’s move comes in the wake of deadly protests against proposed tax hikes, which have evolved into a significant crisis for his two-year presidency.
Organized primarily by Gen-Z Kenyans through online platforms, these protests were initially peaceful but turned violent, forcing Ruto to abandon his finance bill containing the tax hikes. In an attempt to quell the unrest, Ruto dismissed all cabinet ministers except Foreign Minister Musalia Mudavadi and Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
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Despite this, young Kenyans remain dissatisfied. Hyrence Mwangi, 25, stated, “We will be back on the streets until Ruto goes. He has wasted two years in office traveling and telling lies.” Jackson Rotich, 27, expressed distrust, recalling Ruto’s initial dismissal of protesters as “hired goons and criminals.” Law student Melisa Agufana, 24, appreciated the president’s response but criticized the ministers for their lack of action.
Analysts, such as Gabrielle Lynch from the University of Warwick, believe the cabinet reshuffle offers a chance for a fresh start but also warns of ongoing risks. Ruto faces the challenge of forming a new cabinet that balances various interests while calming popular anger.
Last week, Ruto announced sharp cuts to government spending and an increase in borrowing to fund services, despite Kenya’s substantial foreign debt, which is around 70 percent of GDP. This financial crisis has led Moody’s to downgrade Kenya’s debt rating further into junk territory, making borrowing more expensive.
Ruto has pledged to engage in extensive consultations to form a broad-based government, aiming to stabilize the situation. However, the effectiveness of these measures in addressing the grievances of young Kenyans remains uncertain.
