Ruto promises to form broad-based govt after firing all Cabinet Secretaries

President William Ruto has promised to form a broad-based government moments after firing all Cabinet Secretaries and Attorney General Justin Muturi.

Speaking on Thursday, July 11, 2024, Ruto said he was forced to fire the Cabinet Secretaries after a reflection, listening keenly to what the people of Kenya have said and after a holistic appraisal of the performance of the Cabinet and its achievements and challenges.

Ruto however spared Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Musalia Mudavadi. Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, by virtue of the law, will remain part of the cabinet since he can only leave the office through impeachment, resignation, being incapacitated or death.

Ruto says he will now engage in extensive consultations across different sectors and political formations, to set up a broad-based government.

"Even with the progress we have made, I am acutely aware that the people of Kenya have high expectations of me and believe that this administration can undertake the most extensive transformation in our nation’s history," Ruto said.

"Recent events that necessitated the withdrawal of the Finance Bill, which will require a review and reorganisation of our budget and fiscal management, have brought us to an inflexion," he added

"Upon reflection, listening keenly to what the people of Kenya have said and after a holistic appraisal of the performance of my Cabinet and its achievements and challenges, I have, in line with the powers given to me by Article 152(1) and 152(5)(b) of the Constitution and Section 12 of the Office of the Attorney-General Act, decided to dismiss with immediate effect all the Cabinet Secretaries and the Attorney-General from the Cabinet of the Republic of Kenya except the Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs."

Ruto meets opposition

This comes days after Ruto met opposition leaders Raila Odinga and Kalonzo Musyoka during the signing of the IEBC (Amendment) Bill into law. It is expected that the new cabinet could involve some members from the opposition.

"I will immediately engage in extensive consultations across different sectors and political formations, with the aim of setting up a broad-based government that will assist me in accelerating and expediting the necessary, urgent and irreversible, implementation of radical programmes to deal with the burden of debt, raising domestic resources, expanding job opportunities, eliminate wastage and unnecessary duplication of a multiplicity of government agencies and slay the dragon of corruption consequently making the government lean, inexpensive, effective and efficient," Ruto added.

Ruto says during this process, the operations of government will continue uninterrupted under the guidance of Principal Secretaries and other relevant officials.