A new poll by the Trends and Insights for Africa (TIFA) has revealed that 90 per cent of Kenya Kwanza supporters agree with President William Ruto’s decision to dissolve his cabinet.
In what appears to point towards infighting in the government, the majority of people who expressed support for the dissolution of the cabinet were Kenya Kwanza supporters at 90 per cent followed by Azimio coalition supporters at 86 per cent.
The high number of respondents supporting the dismissal of Cabinet Secretaries suggests a perceived disconnect between the actions of the fired CSs and the general expectations of their supporters.
In the Central region, 73 per cent of the respondents supported the dissolution of the cabinet while 22 per cent were opposed to it, the coast region expressed the least support at 53 per cent, the Eastern region at 68 per cent, Nairobi at 74 per cent, North Eastern at 71 per cent, Nyanza at 67 per cent, Rift Valley at 64 per cent and Western at 69 per cent.
With the Cabinet Secretaries dismissed, slightly more than half of Kenyans do not want them retained in the new broad-based government which President William Ruto has promised to form.
This is in line with the general feeling of reform and transformation in the government as envisaged in the demands suggested by the Gen Zs.
50 per cent of Kenyans over the age of 35 would want a few performing Cabinet Secretaries re-appointed, while 50 per cent of the residents in North Eastern and Western regions also want the dismissed officials back in the government.
Ruto dissolves cabinet
On Thursday, July 11, 2024, Ruto said he was forced to fire the Cabinet Secretaries after a reflection, listening keenly to what the people of Kenya have said and after a holistic appraisal of the performance of the Cabinet and its achievements and challenges.
He, however, spared Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Musalia Mudavadi. Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, by virtue of the law, will remain part of the cabinet since he can only leave the office through impeachment, resignation, incapacitation or death.
“Upon reflection, listening keenly to what the people of Kenya have said and after a holistic appraisal of the performance of my Cabinet and its achievements and challenges, I have, in line with the powers given to me by Article 152(1) and 152(5)(b) of the Constitution and Section 12 of the Office of the Attorney-General Act, decided to dismiss with immediate effect all the Cabinet Secretaries and the Attorney-General from the Cabinet of the Republic of Kenya except the Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs,” Ruto said.