On Friday, Kenyan youths expressed their discontent with President William Ruto’s decision to dismiss most of his cabinet, with some warning of renewed street protests unless he steps down.
Ruto has faced significant challenges managing the aftermath of violent protests against proposed tax increases. These protests, ignited by peaceful demonstrations last month, have reflected widespread public dissatisfaction with his administration.
Predominantly led by young Kenyans from Generation Z and organized online, the protests have pushed Ruto’s government into its deepest crisis since he assumed office two years ago. The intensity of the backlash forced him to withdraw the finance bill that included the tax hikes.
In an attempt to calm the situation, Ruto dismissed all cabinet ministers except for Foreign Minister Musalia Mudavadi and Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua on Thursday. Although some viewed this move favorably, it failed to appease young Kenyans frustrated by Ruto’s unfulfilled promises regarding job creation and economic improvement.
Hyrence Mwangi, 25, stated, “We will return to the streets until Ruto resigns. He has wasted two years traveling and deceiving us.”
The initially peaceful protests escalated dramatically when police fired on crowds storming parliament, leading to damage and partial burning of the complex.
While large-scale protests have lessened, dissatisfaction with the government, particularly towards the police, remains high. Rights groups reported that 39 people died during the demonstrations. Jackson Rotich, 27, remarked, “When we first protested, Ruto dismissed us as hired thugs and criminals, only to later promise reforms. We cannot trust him.”
Melisa Agufana, 24, a law student, acknowledged the president for listening but criticized ministers for “wasting two years doing nothing except riding around with our national flag.”
Analysts believe that Ruto’s cabinet overhaul might provide a new beginning but warn of ongoing risks. Gabrielle Lynch, a professor of comparative politics at the University of Warwick, noted, “The challenge Ruto faces now is forming a new cabinet that accommodates various interests while appeasing public anger.”
Recently, Ruto announced significant cuts in government spending, including travel and refurbishment expenses, and mentioned plans to increase borrowing to fund essential services amidst Kenya’s substantial foreign debt, which is about 70 percent of GDP. Moody’s recent downgrade of Kenya’s debt rating to junk status, with a negative outlook, could further complicate government borrowing.
On Thursday, Ruto stated that he would “immediately engage in extensive consultations across different sectors and political formations to establish a broad-based government,” but did not provide additional details.