Ruto to chair first Cabinet meeting since protests erupted

President William Ruto is scheduled to preside over a crucial cabinet meeting today, the first since widespread protests erupted across the country.

The meeting comes at a time when pressure has continued to mount on Ruto to dismiss some of his cabinet secretaries over alleged incompetence and mismanagement.

Ruto last chaired a cabinet meeting on June 11.

Sources within the presidential office indicate that today’s cabinet session will address these concerns head-on.

“He is expected to discuss the performance of key cabinet secretaries,” said the source.

Speaking Wednesday in a TV interview, Defence cabinet secretary Aden Duale the president has a right to reorganise for better service delivery.

“If the President feels I have let him down as a Minister of Defence, I want him to do the right thing, not only start with me and all the rest who have let him down, in the interest of the Kenyans and tell us to step aside, I will have a new team. I am ready,” he said.

The cabinet is also expected to discuss about the new austerity measures as proposed by the head of state following the budget deficit after the rejection of the finance bill.

The meeting will further address critical national issues raised by the youth and the broader Kenyan public.

The protests began two weeks ago with Kenyans sustaining pressure on MPs to reject the Finance Bill, 2024 over alleged punitive tax measures.

But, even after Ruto declined to assent to the Bill, protests have continued in some parts of the country something that has led to looting and destruction of private and public property worth billions of shillings.

Ruto said in an interview Sunday that damages caused after the protesters invaded parliament, the office of the chief justice and part of city hall is over Sh2.4 billion.