• The dissolution of the cabinet does not affect the deputy president or the prime cabinet secretary, who cannot be dismissed legally.
• Three of the sacked ministers had been MPs before leaving their legislative roles to join the cabinet just two years ago.
• Ruto has pledged to establish an affordable but “broad-based government,” hinting at possibly incorporating the opposition.

Kenya’s under-fire President William Ruto has dismissed all his ministers and the attorney-general “with immediate effect,” following the recent deadly protests that resulted in the withdrawal of an unpopular tax bill. The president stated that the decision was made after “reflection, listening to Kenyans, and conducting a holistic appraisal of my cabinet.”

He has announced that he will now consult widely to establish a broad-based government.

The dissolution of his cabinet does not impact the deputy president, who cannot legally be dismissed, or the prime cabinet secretary, who also serves as the foreign affairs minister.

Mr. Ruto stated that senior civil servants would supervise government operations to ensure continuity.

He said he would consult “across different sectors and political formations and other Kenyans, both in public and private” over a new government, but did not say when it would be announced.

The constitution does not specify how long the president can operate without a cabinet. However, analysts say Mr. Ruto will need to name a new team soon to prevent further issues with the country’s disgruntled youth.

The dramatic dissolution of the cabinet is highly unusual, occurring less than two years after he assumed office.

Three of the sacked ministers had been MPs before leaving their legislative roles to join the cabinet barely two years ago.

One of them is Aden Duale, who promptly posted on X (formerly Twitter) to thank the president. He expressed that he would “forever be indebted to him and the people of Kenya for this opportunity to serve” as Kenya’s defense minister.

“Anything that paves the way for the best interest of our nation, at this point, is preeminent,” posted Soipan Tuya, the dismissed environment minister.

Last Thursday, President Ruto chaired a cabinet meeting described by one of the local newspapers as the “last supper” for the ministers.

Some of the ministers were implicated in corruption scandals that resulted in the suspension of senior government officials across several ministries. However, Mr. Ruto had defended them, stating that there was no evidence to justify dismissing them.

Last October, Mr. Ruto announced a mini-cabinet reshuffle that impacted at least eight ministers.

The last instance of dissolving an entire cabinet occurred in 2005 when then-President Mwai Kibaki did so shortly after losing a referendum on a new constitution.

Under pressure from Kenyans who have continued holding anti-government protests and demanding more accountability, Mr. Ruto agreed to withdraw his controversial tax increases.

He has pledged to establish an affordable but “broad-based government,” hinting at possibly incorporating the opposition.

The law permits the president to nominate a maximum of 22 ministers, with a minimum of 14.

On Tuesday, the president met with opposition leader Raila Odinga and announced plans to form a 150-member dialogue panel to help resolve the current crisis. However, young Kenyans, who have been organizing the protests, rejected Mr. Ruto’s plan and insisted that he disband the cabinet and take action against corrupt officials.

The tax increases were aimed at reducing Kenya’s substantial debts, but protesters insisted that the government should prioritize cutting spending, citing excessive waste. Last week, Mr. Ruto announced several austerity measures. He also mandated a freeze on proposed pay raises for members of his cabinet and parliament following public outcry.

However, these measures did not satisfy the protesters, with some demanding the president’s resignation using the hashtag #RutoMustGo.

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