Kenya president dismisses most of cabinet following anti-government protests

Kenyan President William Ruto has dismissed almost his entire cabinet and announced consultations to form a "broad-based government" after weeks of sometimes deadly anti-government protests against planned tax hikes.

Ruto said the move, announced on Thursday, affects all ministers including the attorney-general.

Only Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi have held onto their posts, the president said.

The East African nation was left reeling after peaceful rallies last month over steep tax increases flared into deadly violence with police firing at crowds who stormed parliament.

Led largely by young, Gen-Z Kenyans, the protests plunged Ruto's administration into the most serious crisis of his presidency, forcing him to abandon the tax hikes and scramble to contain the damage.

'Extensive transformation'

Ruto said his decision was taken "upon reflection, listening keenly to what the people of Kenya have said and after a holistic appraisal" of the performance of his cabinet, he told reporters from State House Nairobi.

“Even with the progress we've made, I'm acutely aware that the people of Kenya have very high expectations of me, and they believe that this administration can undertake the most extensive transformation in our nation's history,” he said.

Human rights organisations have denounced what they say is "excessive repression" by the government.

According to The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNHCR), 39 people have died in the protests since they began on 18 June.

A probe was opened in June to investigate the violence.

Ruto also said he will "immediately engage in extensive consultations across different sectors and political formations, with the aim of setting up a broad-based government".

This government would, he said, help him to develop "radical programmes" to deal with the country's huge debt burden, increase job opportunities, eliminate government waste and "slay the dragon of corruption".

(with AFP)