Kenyan youths has dismissed President William Ruto’s decision to sack most of his cabinet, with threats that they would resume street protests unless he steps down.
Recall that the youths have been organizing on social media and staging peaceful street demonstrations since June 18, demanding that the government drop the controversial finance bill altogether.
The protests started in Nairobi but spread to other parts of Kenya, including Mombasa and Eldoret and has now resulted into demands for President Ruto’s resignation.
Following the protests, Ruto’s administration have been plugged into the most serious crisis of his two-year presidency, forcing him to abandon the finance bill containing the tax hikes.
In the latest move to defuse tensions, Ruto on Thursday dismissed all cabinet ministers including the attorney-general, with the exception of Foreign Minister Musalia Mudavadi and Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
The announcement, didn’t seem to appease some young Kenyans frustrated with Ruto’s failure to deliver on his 2022 election promise to create jobs and boost their fortunes.
According to AFP report, Hyrence Mwangi, 25, said: “We will be back on the streets until Ruto goes. He has wasted two years in office travelling and telling lies.”
Initially peaceful, the protests sharply escalated when police fired at crowds who stormed parliament, ransacking the partly ablaze complex.
While large-scale street protests have subsided, anger against the government has not, particularly towards the police, with rights groups saying that 39 people were killed in the demonstrations.
“When we first went to the streets, Ruto dismissed us as a bunch of hired goons and criminals, only to come later and start saying he will make changes,” said 27-year-old Jackson Rotich.
Law student Melisa Agufana, 24, said she wanted to “thank the president for listening”, adding that ministers had “wasted two years doing nothing apart from being driven around with our national flag.”
Analysts said the move offered the possibility of a fresh start but warned of further risks.
“The challenge that Ruto now faces is forming a new cabinet that includes various vested interests, whilst simultaneously calming popular anger”, Gabrielle Lynch, professor of comparative politics at the University of Warwick, told AFP.
AFP
