PREVIEW
After announcing the return of six senior ministers and threatening broadcasters, the President has taken a harder line
President William Ruto’s decision last week to bring back six of the senior ministers he had fired, particularly Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki, who many hold as culpable for the abduction and killing of scores of protestors and organisers, has marked a hardening in resolve by State House (AC Vol 65 No 15, Ruto struggles to retain control).
Having initially labelled the protestors as ‘criminals’ before scrapping the controversial Finance Bill and then firing his government, Ruto has returned to a hardline stance (AC Vol 65 No 14, Youth revolt wins).
On 19 July, he announced the return of six ministers, which include Defence Minister Aden Duale, and five new ministers: Debra Mulongo Barasa (Health), Julius Migos Ogamba (Education), Andrew Mwihia Karanja (Agriculture and Livestock Development), Eric Muriithi Muuga (Water, Sanitation and Irrigation) and Margaret Nyambura Ndung’u (Information, Communication and Digital Economy).
‘I want to promise you that there will be no more protests, they are going to stop,’ he said on 21 July, adding, ‘enough is enough.’
Several local broadcasters have also received warning letters from government stating that by showing images of police brutality, and injured and dead bodies, they may be breaching the Constitution. Those threats, plus the police abduction and beating of veteran reporter Macharia Gaitho, which the police claimed was a case of mistaken identity, and the shooting of fellow journalist Catherine Wanjeri, have driven relations between the media and government to a new low.
Ruto contends that he offered to hold talks with the protestors but was rebuffed (AC Vol 65 No 14, After the protestors won the tax war).
A major demonstration by the Generation Z movement is planned for today, including blockades of major entry roads to Nairobi and around Kenyatta International Airport.
In the meantime, further ministerial appointments are expected this week, with veteran opposition leader Raila Odinga seemingly prepared to break up his Azimio la Umoja coalition to join a Ruto unity government. Azimio leaders Kalonzo Musyoka and Martha Karua both oppose joining a Ruto government.
Odinga’s Orange Democratic Movement is believed to have been offered five cabinet posts, with deputy party leaders Hassan Joho and Wycliffe Oparanya being touted for jobs, though ODM’s James Orengo, a long-time Odinga ally, has described joining Ruto as ‘a disaster’ and ‘an abomination’, adding that ‘the President has lost the confidence of the international community’.
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