- Kenya’s Ruto appoints opposition to Cabinet amid unrest
- He gave four posts to the opposition including finance and energy ministries
- It’s the first time the opposition will serve in the government since 2008
- Ruto’s decision follows widespread protests demanding his resignation, sparked by a controversial finance bill proposing tax hikes
- Ruto made 10 new appointments, bringing his cabinet to 21 members
Kenya’s Ruto appoints opposition to Cabinet amid unrest
Kenya’s President William Ruto has nominated key allies of opposition leader Raila Odinga to his cabinet, in an attempt to calm the rising dissatisfaction with his government.
He gave four posts to the opposition including key positions: in finance and energy ministries.
The four members of the main opposition party, the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), who have joined the cabinet are:
- John Mbadi (finance, referred to as treasury in Kenya)
- Opiyo Wandayi (energy and petroleum)
- Hassan Joho (mining and blue economy) and
- Wycliffe Oparanya (co-operatives and micro, small and medium enterprises development).
It’s the first time the opposition will serve in the government since Odinga took up the post of prime minister in then-President Mwai Kibaki’s cabinet in 2008.
Ruto’s decision follows widespread protests demanding his resignation, sparked by a controversial finance bill proposing tax hikes. The protests escalated to the storming and partial burning of parliament, leading Ruto to withdraw the bill. However, public anger persists due to police brutality during the demonstrations.
In a national address, Ruto stated that he had formed a “broad-based” government to drive a “transformational agenda” for a more just and prosperous Kenya.
Ruto made 10 new appointments, bringing his cabinet to 21 members, with half from his previous cabinet, further frustrating protesters seeking a break from the past. The appointments require parliamentary approval, which is likely due to a deal between the two main parties.
