Kenyan President William Ruto has largely retained his former ministers in a new cabinet announced Friday. This decision comes as part of his administration’s effort to address the demands of young protesters who have been voicing their grievances against the government.
President Ruto announced 11 new cabinet appointments in a televised address, with six members being retained from his previous government. He also mentioned that more appointments would be made soon. This reshuffle comes after a major cabinet change last week, which was seen as a response to demonstrations led by youth groups throughout Kenya.
The recent protests have increased pressure on President Ruto, with demonstrators demanding changes due to frustration over the government’s handling of economic issues. These protests, which have intensified since mid-June, have unfortunately resulted in over 50 deaths, leading to calls for the president’s resignation. Despite efforts to address these concerns, large demonstrations continued this week.
In the new cabinet, President Ruto has re-appointed several key ministers from his previous administration, including the ministers of interior, defense, environment, and land. However, he has made changes to the responsibilities of two other ministers, indicating a partial reshuffle within the government.
The new education minister, Julius Migos Ogamba, was previously the running mate of the outgoing education minister, Ezekiel Machogu, in Machogu’s unsuccessful bid for Kisii County governor in 2022. This appointment reflects Ruto’s decision to maintain connections within his political circle.
The nominees for the positions of health, information, agriculture, water, and education ministers do not seem to have significant political backgrounds, which may signify a shift towards technical expertise or fresh perspectives in these key areas. President Ruto has pledged to unveil a clear plan for his new cabinet next week, aiming to establish specific timelines and deliverables for the government’s agenda to address ongoing issues and demonstrate commitment to the public’s concerns.
However, the leading activists behind the protests have criticized the new appointments, rejecting the entire political class as corrupt and unresponsive to the people’s needs. Hanifa Farsafi, a prominent activist, shared the list of new cabinet nominees on social media, marking it “rejected” in red, indicating widespread discontent with the president’s choices.
The protests have created a difficult situation for President Ruto, who is dealing with the pressures of managing high national debt and addressing rising living costs. The government’s proposed measures, including postponing planned tax hikes, aim to address the budget deficit but have not fully calmed public unrest.
Earlier speculation suggested that some opposition figures might be included in President Ruto’s new cabinet. However, protesters have opposed the idea of a unity government, arguing that it would only prolong a tradition in Kenyan politics where leaders offer positions and benefits to opposition members without delivering tangible benefits to the general population.
