- Activists demand sacking of IG Koome over police brutality
- Critics warn it is too early to celebrate.
Image: PCS
President William Ruto’s move to dissolve Cabinet has been welcomed across the political divide.
The shocker came when the country is facing a youth-led revolt over poor governance.
In an unprecedented move, the President fired all his ministers except Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign Affairs CS Musalia Mudavadi.
Attorney General Justin Muturi was also dismissed.
Ruto assured the nation that government operations will continue uninterrupted under the guidance of principal secretaries.
Azimio leader Raila Odinga’s point man in the National Assembly Opiyo Wandayi described the move as a step in the right direction.
He told the Star that the radical step President Ruto took is necessary as it provides a fresh start.
“I welcome the move because it creates room for a fresh start which the country badly needs,” the Ugunja lawmaker said.
“Sacking all the Cabinet Secretaries is a solid start,” said Senate Minority Whip Edwin Sifuna.
Human rights defender Boniface Mwangi, while welcoming the sacking of the ministers, said the axe should extend to Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome.
“We are telling the President that what he has done is a welcome move but guess who is still in office? It is Koome who ordered the police to brutalise, arrest and abduct young children,” he said.
Mwangi was at the centre of the youth-led protests that forced the government to withdraw the punitive tax measures.
“How is he going to legitimately lead young people who he is also killing?" he asked.
Azimio MPs Mark Nyamita (Uriri), Babu Owino (Embakasi East) and Tabitha Mutinda (nominated senator) said the President should not make the same mistakes when reconstituting his new Cabinet.
“It is refreshing to see him (Ruto) rise to the occasion and show that he is in charge. My hope is that the next Cabinet will be a true reflection of the nation not only by region but also the population demographics,” Nyamita said.
"Thanking the President William Ruto for making a decisive decision to dissolve the cabinet. The President needs an effective Cabinet to actualise the Kenya Kwanza agenda," Mutinda said.
Machakos Deputy Governor Francis Mwangangi said Kenyans should not yet celebrate until the new team is reconstituted.
“Until we see the next Cabinet, we can’t say it is a good move because he might bring a worse Cabinet than the previous one,” he said.
Former Presidential candidate Reuben Kigame, however, dismissed the move and asked Ruto to follow suit and resign.
“Cabinet Secretaries are a secondary problem. Our primary problem is President William Ruto. He is the one who appointed them. He too must go,” he posted on his X account.