Ruto fires Cabinet, AG Justin Muturi

President William Ruto gives a State of the Nation address on Thursday, July 11 at State House, Nairobi. [PCS]

President William Ruto has fired all Cabinet Secretaries (CSs) save for Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi who also acts as Foreign Affairs minister. 

The Head of State has also dismissed Attorney-General Justin Muturi.

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is unaffected. 

“Upon reflection and listening keenly to what the people of Kenya have said and after holistic appraisal of the performance of my Cabinet and its achievements and challenges, I have today in line with the powers given to me decided to dismiss with immediate effect all the CSs and AG except the PCS and CS for Foreign Affairs and the office of the DP is not affected in any way,” announced Ruto.

The respective ministries will now be managed by Principal Secretaries.

The president said that he will announce additional measures ‘soon’.

“During this process, the operations of government will continue uninterrupted under the guidance of Principal Secretaries and other relevant officials,” said Ruto.

Broad-based government

Ruto said that he will engage various stakeholders to set up a government that will help him deliver on campaign promises.

The move, he says, will help him deal with Kenya’s debt, create jobs, and eliminate excesses in government and the multiplicity of its agencies.

Ruto also reiterated his commitment to fighting corruption and making the government lean, inexpensive, effective, and efficient.

He said that the withdrawal of Finance Bill 2024 will require a review and reorganisation of Kenya’s budget and fiscal management.

“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.”

The Public Fundraising Appeals Bill is now ready for publication tomorrow, following Ruto’s directive to ban State officials' contributions in harambees.

The firing of Cabinet comes on the back of growing displeasure with Ruto’s administration, and several protests against the Finance Bill 2024 and the government.

President Ruto has had to climb down and make several changes within the government, including dismissing 47 parastatals last week, whose roles he said were duplicated.