Kenyan president Ruto dismisses most of his cabinet after recent events in the country

On Jul 11, 2024 148

Addis Ababa, July 11, 2024 (FBC) – Kenya’s President William Ruto dismissed most of his cabinet after deadly protests against his plan to raise more than $2 billion in new taxes, according to several reports.

Ruto retained his deputy and prime cabinet secretary, the president said in an address to the nation on Thursday. The move comes after he scrapped the plan to levy duties on everything from bread to diapers following protests that left at least 41 people dead.

With riots wrecking Ruto’s plan to improve state finances and Moody’s Ratings cutting the nation’s credit assessment deeper into junk, the president is seeking to assuage resentment to his leadership with his latest move.

Moody’s reduced Kenya’s rating one level to Caa1 from B3 and maintained its negative outlook on the country’s debt, it said in a statement on Monday. The company doesn’t expect the government to introduce significant revenue-raising measures in the foreseeable future, given heightened social tensions.