Kenyan President William Ruto sacked almost his entire government today, except for his vice president and foreign minister, two weeks after bloody protests across the country.

After “listening to what the people of Kenya have to say and after studying the overall performance of the government, what it has implemented and its challenges, Ruto has decided “to expel, with immediate effect, all its members,” he told a press conference. which he granted to the presidential palace.

The government reshuffle was widely expected following protests and riots after the new fiscal measures were announced in June. Only Foreign Minister Musalia Mudavadi and Deputy Prime Minister Rigathy Gatchagua will retain their posts.

“I will immediately begin broad consultations with various sectors and political formations with the aim of forming a broad-based government that will help me fast-track necessary and urgent measures,” Ruto added. For the president, the new government should allow him to implement “radical measures” to tackle high debt, increase jobs and fight corruption.

“It’s impressive that he (Ruto) has kicked them all out, even his close allies, Kiddiki (interior minister) and Chirchir (energy minister), who have been working with him for a long time,” commented Declan Galvin of the consultancy Exigent Risk Advisory, considering however that this move will prove positive for him.

On June 26, the president withdrew a controversial budget plan that included tax increases, a day after riots and an attack by young protesters in parliament. The police then fired live bullets into the crowd. According to the official human rights protection agency (KNHCR), 39 people have been killed since the day the protests began on June 18.

“Kenya’s president has dismissed his government! Power always belongs to the people!” was the first reaction, on Platform X, of the activist Hanifa Adan, a powerful figure in the protest movement against the new budget.

After withdrawing the bill, Ruto announced an increase in borrowing – by €1.2 billion – and a reduction in spending by €1.3 billion. Soon after, Moody’s downgraded Kenya’s credit rating.

The debt of Kenya, the economic engine of East Africa, amounts to 10 trillion. shillings (about 71 billion euros), i.e. it reaches 70% of the country’s GDP. The 2024-25 budget predicted record spending of €29 billion, which would be financed by increased taxes first on bread and, secondly, on fuel.