President William Ruto has enacted a series of measures in response to mounting pressure from Gen Z protesters, marking the third week of nationwide demonstrations against the Finance Bill 2024.
Protests erupted in major towns across Kenya, where demonstrators demanded that the President address their concerns. The unrest escalated, resulting in injuries and fatalities as protesters stormed Parliament.
In response, President Ruto withdrew his support for the Finance Bill 2024, sending it back to Parliament for significant revisions. However, this decision did not quell the protests, as activists issued further demands for government action.
On June 26, the President announced new austerity measures targeting key state departments, including his own office. He emphasized the necessity of reducing government expenditures in light of the public outcry.
Key proposals included:
- Reducing operational expenses across the presidency, including the Deputy President’s office.
- Eliminating confidential budget allocations while cutting travel, hospitality, vehicle purchases, and renovation budgets.
- Directing Parliament, the Judiciary, and county governments to collaborate with the Treasury to implement budget cuts.
- Dissolving 47 state corporations with overlapping functions.
- Suspending the hiring of Chief Administrative Secretaries (CAS) and reducing government advisers by 50%.
- Eliminating budgets for the Offices of the First Lady, the Second Lady, and the Spouse of the Prime Cabinet Secretary.
- Reducing renovation budgets in government offices by 50%.
- Mandating immediate retirement for civil servants at age 60, with no extensions permitted.
- Suspending the purchase of new government vehicles for one year, except for security agencies, and halting non-essential travel for state officers.
Additionally, Ruto dissolved his entire cabinet, retaining only Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, who also serves as the Foreign and Diaspora Affairs CS. He stated that a new cabinet would be appointed following extensive consultations across various sectors.
