Kenya’s President William Ruto fired all but one cabinet minister in his second shock decision following deadly protests triggered by tax increases. The first was the withdrawal of the tax measures on 26 June, the day after at least a dozen people were killed in youth-led nationwide protests. Ruto has promised to replace the discredited cabinet with a government of national unity to address numerous other grievances, such as official corruption. We asked John Mukum Mbaku, a scholar with a research interests in public choice, constitutionalism and institutional reform, to discuss the decision.
How significant is Ruto’s decision to dissolve the cabinet?
On 11 July 2024, Ruto sacked almost all of his cabinet. He said he had done so in response to protests led primarily by Kenya’s youth.
