BBC News: Kenya’s under-fire President William Ruto has dismissed with “immediate effect” all his ministers and the attorney-general, following the recent deadly protests that led to the withdrawal of an unpopular tax bill.
The president said the move came after “reflection, listening to Kenyans, and after holistic appraisal of my cabinet”.
He has said he will now consult widely in order to set up a broad-based government.
The dissolution of his cabinet does not affect the deputy president, who can’t legally be fired, and the prime cabinet secretary who is also the foreign affairs minister.
Mr Ruto said that government operations would continue uninterrupted under the supervision of senior civil servants.
The constitution does not say for how long the president can operate without a cabinet. But analysts say Mr Ruto will have to name a new team soon to avoid running into more problems with the country’s aggrieved youth.
Last Thursday, President Ruto chaired a cabinet meeting which one of the local newspapers described as the “last supper” for the ministers.
The last time an entire cabinet was dissolved was in 2005 when then President Mwai Kibaki did so shortly after losing a referendum over a new constitution.
Mr Ruto has been under pressure from Kenyans who have continued holding anti-government protests and demanding more accountability from government, even though he agreed to withdraw his controversial tax rises.
He has pledged to set up an inexpensive but “broad-based government”, hinting at the possibility of co-opting the opposition.
On Tuesday, the president met opposition leader Raila Odinga and announced plans to form a 150-member dialogue panel to help solve the current crisis.
Last week, Mr Ruto announced a number of austerity measures.
He also ordered a freeze in proposed pay rises for members of his cabinet and parliament following a public outcry.
