Kenyan President Appoints First Cabinet Amid Protests and Criticism
Kenyan President William Ruto has appointed the first 11 members of his Cabinet, retaining six former ministers in key portfolios. The move comes amidst ongoing protests across the country, with demonstrators calling for a fresh start and accountability from the government.
Ruto’s Cabinet appointment marks a significant shift from his earlier vow to form a broad-based government. The president dismissed all but one minister last week, citing the need to address issues that led to the month-long protests. The protests began as a call to reject a finance bill proposing new taxes and later morphed into demands for the president’s resignation over allegations of bad governance.
The retained ministers in the key portfolios of defense and interior have faced criticism for their handling of the crisis. The interior ministry, which oversees the police, has been accused of brutality during protests, including the shooting and killings of protesters on June 25.
The opposition coalition, which distanced itself from the proposal to form a broad-based government, has described the Cabinet change as “cosmetic.” Opposition figure Kalonzo Musyoka criticized the move, saying it will not bring about meaningful change as long as the Ruto administration is in power.
Main opposition leader Raila Odinga was absent from the opposition coalition’s media briefing. Kenya’s month-long protests, led by young people who demanded change, accountability, and good governance, have resulted in at least 50 deaths and over 400 injuries, according to data from the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights.
The government’s response to the protests has been marred by controversy, with a court suspending a ban on protests in the capital, Nairobi, just hours before Ruto’s Cabinet announcement.
As Kenya’s crisis continues, the appointment of the first Cabinet raises more questions than answers. Will Ruto’s administration be able to address the country’s deep-seated issues, or will the protests continue to unfold? Only time will tell.
