Nairobi, Kenya – Kenyan President William Ruto on Wednesday appointed four prominent opposition politicians to his newly formed “broad-based” cabinet following over a month of anti-government protests.
Ruto revealed the names of 10 ministers in his restructured cabinet, including four close allies of veteran opposition leader Raila Odinga. This announcement came a day after a list of another 10 ministers was submitted to parliament.
The beleaguered president had previously dismissed almost his entire cabinet on July 11 and announced a partial new lineup on July 19, which included some of the ousted ministers.
“I commend the leadership of diverse organizations, both in public and private sectors, including political parties, for the encouraging response to my outreach to consult on forming a broad-based government,” Ruto stated on Wednesday. “Their willingness to set aside partisan positions and interests to join a visionary partnership for the radical transformation of Kenya is a historic gesture of their patriotism.”
The four opposition nominees are John Mbadi, appointed to the treasury; James Opiyo Wandayi, named for energy; Ali Joho, selected for the mining ministry; and Wycliffe Oparanya, designated as head of the cooperatives ministry. These nominations must be approved by parliament.
Among the newly named ministers, five were members of the previously sacked cabinet.
Since late June, Ruto has taken various measures to address the crisis, including reversing unpopular tax increases and promising cuts to what many perceive as excessive government spending. However, protests, largely led by Gen-Z Kenyans, continue under the hashtag #RutoMustGo, with activists demanding action against corruption and alleged police brutality.
The ongoing demonstrations highlight the growing dissatisfaction among Kenyans, particularly the younger generation, with the current administration’s policies and governance. Ruto’s inclusion of opposition figures in his cabinet is seen as a strategic move to foster unity and address the pressing issues facing the nation.
