The Cabinet met on Thursday, July 4 at State House, Nairobi and was briefed on the security situation in the country following days of riots.
President William Ruto’s Cabinet commended the professional conduct of security officers during protests against the Finance Bill but announced that it would take decisive action against the officers who broke the law by harming peaceful protesters.
The Cabinet met on Thursday, July 4 at State House, Nairobi and was briefed on the security situation in the country following days of riots.
The meeting which was chaired by President Ruto, was informed that though the riots started as a protest against the tax measures proposed in the Finance Bill 2024, they were infiltrated, hijacked and taken over by criminal and opportunistic political forces.
“The two groups have in the past two weeks reigned terror on the people of Kenya in the cities, towns and other urban areas, occasioning loss of life, destruction of National and County governments’ buildings, infrastructure, vehicles, homes and businesses.
Kenyans running during anti-finance bill protests in Nairobi in June 2024. /AFP
“Due to the threat posed to Parliament, the Supreme Court and other infrastructure, the Cabinet was informed that all national security agencies, including the military, were deployed to forestall the breakdown of law and order,” a despatch from Cabinet read in part.
The Cabinet was also informed that the security agencies have stabilised the situation and are continuing to monitor the developments.
The members commended security officers, pointing out that they on the whole acted professionally in very difficult circumstances. The Cabinet also noted that security agencies did a good job of protecting the country from anarchists.
President Ruto said the government must now focus on charting a new future for the country, pointing out that significant changes must be made to align with that new future.
“On any officers who may have acted outside the confines of the law, the Cabinet said they will be dealt with in accordance with legal procedure and by the institutions mandated to do so,” added the despatch.
The Cabinet also called for action against those who have committed heinous crimes of arson, looting and robbery, among others, saying such atrocities must not go unpunished.
On the withdrawn Finance Bill, President Ruto reiterated that the National Treasury is reorganising the budget to accommodate the new reality.
This will include substantial cutting down of budgets to “balance between what to be implemented and what can wait”, and ensuring that key national programmes are not affected.
“Our plan is good and solid and, in the fullness of time, we shall be vindicated,” President Ruto said.
Other Agenda
On other agenda, the Cabinet discussed the implementation of the Kenya Urban Improvement Project in the Nairobi Metropolitan Area.
This includes the phased-out upgrade of the 163-kilometre Nairobi Commuter Rail. The first phase of the upgrade will comprise improving the 58-kilometre commuter rail between the Nairobi Central Railway Station and Thika.
The project will also include the acquisition of new locomotives and the improvement of non-motorised transport infrastructure, and feeder roads along the Nairobi Commuter Rail network.
The Cabinet also approved the following Bills policies:
- Kenya Secondary Education Equity and Quality Improvement Programme
- Kenya-United Arab Emirates Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement
- Co-hosting of the Second Edition of the African Continental Free Trade Area Youth Symposium on September 5-7, 2024
- Public Finance Management (Amendment) Bill 2024
- Ratification of Bilateral Air Services Agreements between Kenya and various countries, including Somalia, Morocco, Algeria, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Guinea, the United Kingdom and South Korea.
President William Ruto chairing a Cabinet meeting at State House, Nairobi on March 7, 2024. /PCS