Ruto Sacks Ministers Amidst Kenya Tax Hike Protests

Kenyan President Ruto Sacks Cabinet After Tax Protests

Kenyan President William Ruto has made big changes. He fired most of his Cabinet ministers after weeks of protests. The protests were about planned tax increases. Ruto says he wants a better government. He also removed the attorney general. For now, permanent secretaries will manage the ministries. This is a big change for Kenya’s government. It aims to fix problems and gain public trust.

Why the Cabinet Was Changed and Protests Happened

Ruto sacked his cabinet after many weeks of protests. People were angry about a new finance bill. It planned to raise taxes on many things. This made people very upset and led to protests. DW.com says the protests turned deadly [https://www.dw.com/en/kenya-protests-against-tax-hikes-turn-deadly/a-66117189]. The protests grew bigger. People started asking for Ruto to resign.

Sadly, over 30 people died in the protests. This shows how angry people were. The finance bill became a symbol of the gap between the government and Kenyans’ struggles. People were frustrated with the high cost of living and unemployment. They also said there was corruption in the government. The President had to respond to this crisis and bring back calm.

Criticism of Ruto’s Government

Ruto’s government has been criticized a lot. This is especially true for how he picked ministers after the 2022 elections. Some say Ruto chose ministers based on favoritism, not skills. They say he picked 21 ministers this way [Source needed]. These claims have made people trust the government less. They also raise questions about how the government makes decisions. People think some got jobs because of who they knew, not what they knew. This adds to the anger about the economy and how the government is run.

Also, some ministers quit for other jobs. Others who lost elections seemed to get favors. This made people think the system rewards loyalty instead of skill. How ministers were picked and left has made people feel the government cares more about politics than the people’s needs.

Ruto’s Response and Actions to Save Money

Even though Ruto first said he wouldn’t support the tax bill, people still wanted him to quit. So, he admitted the government was spending too much. He then announced actions to save money. He stopped 47 state groups and cut money to the First Lady’s office. This shows he wants to be responsible with money and spend less. These actions try to ease people’s worries and show he’s willing to make sacrifices.

These big changes in Ruto’s cabinet show he’s under pressure. He needs to fix the economy and be responsible with money. By firing ministers and saving money, he’s trying to win back trust. He also wants to show he’s dealing with the problems that made people angry. Whether these actions work will depend on how well they’re set up. It also depends on if they make a real difference in Kenyans’ lives.

What Appointing Permanent Secretaries Means

Appointing permanent secretaries to run ministries raises questions. What will the future of Kenya’s government look like? Will it be better? This could make things run smoother. It might cut down on slow government processes. This could lead to faster and better government. However, it also puts more power in the hands of people who weren’t elected. This raises worries about whether they’re responsible and open.

It’s not clear what will happen in the long run. We need to watch if this change leads to better government and services. Or, will it just move where decisions are made without fixing corruption and waste? How well the permanent secretaries run their ministries will show if this change works. People will be watching closely. They want to see if this new system makes their lives better.

Conclusion

President Ruto’s choice to fire his cabinet ministers shows a turning point for Kenya. This happened because people were angry about the economy and government spending. The goal is to win back trust. This will happen through saving money and promising a better government. Whether this cabinet change and new secretaries work depends on if they fix the economy. It also depends on if they make real improvements in how the government works for Kenyans.