The embattled Kenyan President William Ruto has announced new measures and amendments to anti-corruption laws following recent protests by Kenyan youth.
He has also nominated 10 names to his new ‘broad-based’ cabinet. It includes Hassan Joho, John Mbadi, Opiyo Wandayi and Wycliff Oparanya, prominent members from Raila Odinga’s ODM party.
In a press briefing issued on Wednesday, President Ruto told the country he has heard the calls by youth for action to end corruption. He also ordered the release of all arrested protesters and charges to be dropped.
“Our government listens to the people of Kenya. I will be proposing amendments to various laws on corruption to ensure corruption cases are completed within 6 months,” Ruto said.
“I will be proposing amendments to witness protection laws to ensure we have more witnesses and whistle blowers coming forward.”
After firing his cabinet earlier in the month, Kenyan President William Ruto last week nominated the first batch of 11 cabinet secretaries, marking the start of forming a “broad-based” government.
The president reappointed four cabinet secretaries to their previous ministries of Interior and National Administration; the Defense; Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development; and Environment, Climate Change, and Forestry.
Ruto, who has been under pressure to reduce opulence and waste in his government, however, reassigned former Cabinet Secretary for Energy and Petroleum Davis Chirchir to the Ministry of Roads and Transport which was previously held by his key ally Kipchumba Murkomen. Murkomen is back as Youth Affairs minister.
The nominees are subject to consideration and approval by the National Assembly before their official appointment.
Ruto also said that while the events of the past month have caused tremendous anxiety, concern, and uncertainty, the crisis has presented him with a great opportunity, as a nation, to craft a broad-based and inclusive citizen coalition for national transformation and progress, made up of Kenyans from all walks of life.
“It cannot be denied that our nation has been in a crisis caused by multiple and complex factors. Neither can we turn away from recognizing that the opportunity before us is greater than the crisis,” Ruto said.
The president was forced to dissolve almost his entire Cabinet after young protesters staged anti-government demonstrations across the country in June against a wide range of unpopular tax increases contained in the Finance Bill 2024 that has since been withdrawn.
The bill was seeking to raise an additional 346.7 billion shillings (about 2.7 billion U.S. dollars) through new taxes.
The protesters expressed outrage over provisions of the bill that would raise taxes on goods and services that many people depend on, such as bread, and on mobile money transfers, to meet the government’s revenue targets.
The Gen-Z protesters had been demanding accountability in government, saying there is a lot of opulence and wastage in government spending.
At least 50 people were killed and hundreds more injured during the anti-tax hike protests across Kenya in June and July, according to the state-funded Kenya National Commission on Human Rights.
This was the first time in 19 years that an embattled Kenyan president has fired his entire cabinet. The last occurrence was in 2005 when President Kibaki did so after Kenyans rejected a constitution he supported. ■
Full list of ministers named today
- John Mbadi – National Treasury
2. Salim Mvurya – Investment
3. Rebecca Miano – Tourism
4. Opiyo Wandayi – Petroleum
5. Kipchumba Murkomen – Sports
6. Hassan Joho – Mining
7. Alfred Mutua – Labour
8. Wycliffe Oparanya – Cooperatives and SMEs
9. Justine Muturi- Public Service
10. Stella Langat – Gender
Kenya’s cabinet as at July 10, 2024
- Njuguna Ndung’u: National Treasury and Planning
- Onesmus Kipchumba Murkomen: Roads and Transport
- Aisha Jumwa: Gender, Culture, the Arts & Heritage
- Aden Duale: Defence
- Alice Wahome: Lands, Public Works, Housing & Urban Development
- Alfred Mutua, EGH: Tourism & Wildlife
- Moses K. Kuria, HSC: Public Service, Performance & Delivery Management
- Rebecca Miano: Investments, Trade & Industry
- Kithure Kindiki: Interior and National Administration
- Roselinda Soipan Tuya: Environment and Forestry
- Zachariah Mwangi Njeru: Water, Sanitation & Irrigation
- Peninah Malonza, OGW: East African Community, The ASALs & Regional Development
- Mithika Linturi: Agriculture and Livestock Development
- Ezekiel Machogu: Education
- Davis Chirchir: Energy and Petroleum
- Ababu Namwamba: Youth Affairs and Sports
- Simon Chelugui: Co-operatives and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Development
- Salim Mvurya: Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs
- Florence Bore: Labour and Social Protection
- Eliud Owalo: Information, Communications and the Digital Economy
- Susan Nakhumicha Wafula: Health
- Mercy Kiiru Wanjau: Secretary to the Cabinet
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