Nairobi, Kenya – July 6, 2024 – President William Ruto has responded to the demands of young Kenyans, who have been protesting against his administration, by taking steps to reduce the cost of living. Among his actions, Ruto announced the dissolution of the offices of his wife, the deputy president’s wife, and the prime minister’s wife. He also promised changes to his cabinet but stopped short of firing all current ministers.
For the past three weeks, young Kenyans have been demonstrating, calling for the dismissal of all ministers accused of corruption and rapid wealth accumulation. Reports suggested that the president might remove these ministers after acknowledging the voices of the youth in a recent X Spaces session.
However, during the live session, President Ruto dismissed the call to fire his entire cabinet, stating he has different plans to address the issues tainting his administration.
“I will not dissolve the Cabinet because I am looking at matters from a different perspective,” President Ruto stated. He warned his ministers against engaging in corruption, saying he would not hesitate to fire anyone found guilty by the court with sufficient evidence.
“I will not hesitate to dismiss any minister brought to court with evidence of corruption,” he asserted.
President Ruto also apologized to Kenyans for the complaints against some elected politicians from his United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party, acknowledging their arrogance towards the public. He specifically apologized on behalf of Molo MP Kuria Kimani and Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung’wah for their offensive remarks.
Before the session, President Ruto had already announced several measures to cut government expenses, following his rejection of the Finance Bill 2024. This included banning fundraisers, commonly used by politicians for self-promotion. He instructed Attorney General Justin Muturi to draft legislation to establish a clear and transparent process for public donations, particularly for medical aid.
“I direct the Attorney General to prepare and present legislation to outline an organized and transparent process for public contributions,” Ruto said, banning public officers from participating in fundraisers.
“No government official will be required to participate in raising public funds through harambees,” he declared. Government officials and public servants have been under scrutiny for donating large sums at churches and fundraising events.
To reduce government expenditure, President Ruto announced a reduction in the number of government advisors by half, aiming to improve efficiency in public service, with immediate implementation.
“The number of government advisors will be reduced by 50% immediately,” he announced during his national address.
This reduction is part of Ruto’s broader strategy to eliminate unnecessary government spending and enhance service delivery.
Additionally, President Ruto launched a plan to dissolve 47 government agencies with overlapping functions. Employees from these agencies will be reassigned to various ministries and departments within the government.
“Forty-seven agencies with overlapping roles will be dissolved, eliminating their operational costs. Their functions will be merged into the relevant ministries,” Ruto explained. This move aims to cut costs, streamline government operations, and improve coordination in public service.
The president also suspended the purchase of new government vehicles for 12 months, with exceptions for security departments, and implemented measures to save money for hiring junior secondary school (JSS) teachers and intern doctors.
Ruto also halted unnecessary travel for government employees, both domestically and internationally.
| Government Reforms | Details |
|---|---|
| Reduction of Advisors | Government advisors to be reduced by 50% to improve efficiency in public service. |
| Dissolution of Agencies | 47 government agencies with overlapping functions to be dissolved, with their roles merged into relevant ministries. |
| Suspension of Vehicle Purchases | New government vehicle purchases suspended for 12 months, except for security departments. |
| Travel Restrictions | Unnecessary travel for government employees halted both domestically and internationally. |
| Public Fundraising Ban | Public officers banned from participating in fundraisers, with Attorney General directed to draft legislation for organized and transparent public contribution processes. |
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