Kenya’s President William Ruto is under intense pressure from young citizens who have called for his resignation and warned of renewed protests. The youth’s dissatisfaction stems from Ruto’s recent decision to sack most of his cabinet, a move seen as insufficient in addressing their concerns.
Ruto’s government has been grappling with the aftermath of violent protests against proposed tax hikes. These demonstrations, initially peaceful, escalated into violence and highlighted widespread discontent with his administration. In response, Ruto dismissed all cabinet ministers except for Foreign Minister Musalia Mudavadi and Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua in an attempt to calm tensions.
Many young Kenyans, especially from the Gen-Z demographic, are leading the charge against Ruto. Hyrence Mwangi, a 25-year-old protestor, expressed his frustration: “We will be back on the streets until Ruto goes. He has wasted two years in office traveling and telling lies.” This sentiment is echoed by others who feel Ruto has failed to deliver on his 2022 election promises of job creation and economic improvement.
The protests saw a significant escalation when police responded with force, resulting in the storming and partial burning of the parliament building. Rights groups report that 39 people were killed during these demonstrations. The anger is particularly directed towards the police and Ruto’s handling of the crisis.
Kenya’s economic situation remains precarious. Last week, Ruto announced drastic cuts to government spending, including travel and refurbishment costs. He also mentioned increasing borrowing to fund services, despite Kenya’s foreign debt being around 70% of GDP. This economic strain led Moody’s to downgrade Kenya’s debt rating further into junk territory, making borrowing more expensive for the government.
Political analysts suggest that Ruto’s decision to dismiss his cabinet could offer a chance for a fresh start but also pose significant challenges. Gabrielle Lynch, a professor of comparative politics at the University of Warwick, noted, “The challenge that Ruto now faces is forming a new cabinet that includes various vested interests, whilst simultaneously calming popular anger.”
President Ruto has pledged to engage in extensive consultations across different sectors and political formations to establish a broad-based government. Whether these efforts will be sufficient to placate the dissatisfied youth and stabilize the political climate remains to be seen.
