Kenya: President William Ruto Holds Cabinet Meeting Amid Calls For Reshuffle

President William Ruto chaired a Cabinet meeting at State House following weeks of anti-government protests (#RejectFinancialBill2024, #RutoMustGo) that have gripped the country. 

The Cabinet meeting comes amid reports of a looming shake-up to reshuffle some Cabinet Secretaries while others get a pink slip. 

A Cabinet Secretary who spoke to the Daily Nation anonymously termed the situation as jittery and alleged that they sought to know their fate before proceeding with programs within ministries. 

The meeting also follows weeks of protests as youths express dissatisfaction with Ruto’s regime. Protesters have called for Ruto to step down for failing to resolve the country’s woes. 

Among the demands issued by the Gen Zs was the president to crack the whip on government officials who were either linked with corruption cases or performed poorly in the past two years.

Despite the piling pressure, some observers have said that the protests could be a blessing in disguise for the president as he will have an opportunity to restructure his Cabinet. 

“The President is the biggest beneficiary of the anti-government protests because he now has an opportunity to reshuffle the Cabinet and reduce salaries,” said Charles Owino, Chairperson of the Council of the Kenya Institute of Mass Communication.

Defence CS Aden Duale also maintained his stance that he sought the president to do the right thing to restore confidence in his administration. 

“If the president feels I have let him down as a Minister of Defence, I want him to do the right thing, not only start with me and all the rest who have let him down, in the interest of Kenyans and tell us to step aside. I am ready,” Duale said during JKLive interview on Wednesday. 

This was echoed during a Senate session on Wednesday titled the State of the Nation where senators called for an overhaul of Ruto’s cabinet. Led by Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale, the senators called for a complete restructure to reduce the public wage bill. 

“Mr President, dissolve and reconstitute the Cabinet. Disband offices like the Prime Cabinet Secretary that are not constitutionally mandated in Kenya,” Khalwale remarked. 

During a roundtable discussion with the media, President Ruto reaffirmed that he could not fire a CS for facing graft charges until they are convicted in court. 

“On fake fertiliser, the Minister Mithika Linturi was taken through a process in Parliament… I am a fair person and I am a believer in the rule of law. Even though I may not like you, I must respect that there is due process. the moment we will have a minister who is charged in court meaning that there’s evidence that he participated in crime believe you me, I will take the action that is necessary. We must give someone the benefit of doubt until it is proven,” Ruto said. 

Kenyans now wait to see the direction that Ruto will take to restore confidence in his government and resolve the economic woes plaguing the country. 

SOURCE: NEWS AGENCIES