Ruto Dismisses Cabinet Amid Deadly Tax Protests

Kenyan President William Ruto dismissed nearly his entire Cabinet, including the attorney general, following three weeks of protests against high taxes and poor governance. The protests, led primarily by Gen-Z Kenyans, escalated into deadly violence resulting in over 30 deaths. Ruto retained Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi. He announced plans to consult widely to form a broad-based, leaner government to address Kenya's significant debt, create jobs, eliminate waste, and combat corruption. The protests initially began in response to a finance bill that proposed over $2 billion in new taxes but have since morphed into broader anti-government demonstrations. Ruto acknowledged the high expectations of Kenyans and emphasized the need for extensive transformation.