This afternoon, July 19th, Kenyan President William Ruto has named new members of the Cabinet. He sacked the entire Cabinet due to pressure exerted by the Gen Z protests which caught international headlines. He promised to respond to their grievances and asked for a little more time to set things straight.
In a televised address, he announced 11 appointments to the Cabinet. He wants to form a broad-based unity government which Kenyans are against. He said other nominations would follow soon.
Ruto has retained several previous Cabinet members, including Adan Duale (Defence) and Kithure Kindiki (Interior). He has also retained Alice Wahome as the Minister of Lands and Soipan Tuya as the Environment Minister.
Here’s a full list of the appointments:
- Rebecca Miano- Attorney General
- Prof Kithure Kindiki- Interior and National Administration
- Aden Barre Duale- Defence
- Davis Chirchir- Transport and Roads
- Julius Ogamba- Education
- Eric Muuga- Water & Irrigation
- Andrew Mwihia- Agriculture and Livestock
- Soipan Tuuya- Environment, Climate and Forestry
- Margaret Nyambura- Information, Communication, and Digital Economy
- Dr Deborah Barasa- Health
- Alice Wahome- Lands, Housing, Public Housing and Urban Development
Just before the president’s announcement, opposition coalition members distanced themselves from forming a broad-based government. They were calling it a “betrayal of the Kenyan people, particularly Gen Zs and millennials,” who have been at the forefront in calling out the government.
The official opposition leader, Raila Odinga, was absent during the opposition coalition media briefing.
