On July 11, President William Ruto addressed the nation, highlighting some of the achievements of his administration. In a surprising move, he dismissed his entire Cabinet, retaining only Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi.
“We have achieved significant progress in increasing food production by reducing the cost of farm inputs, thereby lowering the cost of food and living,” Ruto said at the very beginning of his speech.
“We have implemented radical changes in the education sector, including resolving uncertainty around the Competency Based Curriculum (CBC),” he added.
Ruto went on and highlighted other gains under the Bottom Up Economic Transformation Agenda on whose strength the Kenya Kwanza administration was elected in the 2022 General Election.
He then dropped the bombshell.
“Even with the progress we have made, I am acutely aware that the people of Kenya have high expectations of me and believe that this administration can undertake the most extensive transformation in our nation’s history,” the President said.
“I have, in line with the powers given to me by Article 152(1) and 152(5)(b) of the Constitution and Section 12 of the Office of the Attorney-General Act, decided to dismiss with immediate effect all the Cabinet Secretaries and the Attorney-General from the Cabinet of the Republic of Kenya except the Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs,” he said.
In a gazette notice released on Wednesday, President William Ruto outlined the reasons for his decision to dismiss his entire Cabinet.
The notice, dated July 12, stated that one reason was his exercise of presidential prerogative as Head of State and Government to continually assess the capacity of Cabinet members, State Departments, and State Agencies to ensure they meet national aspirations.
Ruto cited his authority under Article 131, read in conjunction with Article 132 of the Constitution, which mandates him to promote good governance in public affairs management.
He also emphasized the critical need to better equip and reorient the government to implement the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda.
The President reiterated that his decision was influenced by reflecting on and listening to the concerns of Kenyans amid mass protests. He acknowledged the “overwhelming feedback of the people of Kenya on the responsiveness of the Government in the performance of its functions.”
In reorganizing his government, Ruto highlighted the need to review his Cabinet to enhance efficiency, effectiveness, transparency, and accountability in public service delivery.
“Now therefore, I, William Samoei Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the Laws of the Republic of Kenya, do hereby order and direct that in accordance with Article 152 (5) (b) of the Constitution, the Cabinet Secretaries listed below have been dismissed from office as stated,” he said.
In the same gazette notice, Ruto designated Prime CS Musalia Mudavadi as the overall acting CS in all the vacant ministerial posts.
