Ruto to form government of national unity, potentially including opposition

President William Ruto is poised to form a government of national unity in appointments of his forthcoming cabinet secretaries in a move that may rope in the opposition.

Speaking during a press conference at State House where he announced the sacking of all cabinet secretaries except Prime CS Musalia Mudavadi, President Ruto indicated that the consultations will be “across different sectors and political formations.

He pointed out that it will include Kenyans both in public and private to set up a broad-based government.

“That will assist me in accelerating and expediting the necessary urgent and irreversible implementation of the programme that we have to deal with the burden of debt,” he stated.

The announcement followed the dismissal of his entire Cabinet, following pressure from Gen Z youths who demanded change.

“Upon reflection, listening keenly to what the people of Kenya have said and after a holistic appraisal of the performance of my Cabinet and its achievements and challenges, I have, in line with the powers given to me by Article 152(1) and 152(5)(b) of the Constitution and Section 12 of the Office of the Attorney-General Act, decided to dismiss with immediate effect all the Cabinet Secretaries and the Attorney-General from the Cabinet of the Republic of Kenya except the Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs,” Ruto said, “but my Deputy is not affected.”

Political analyst Mark Bichachi told The Eastleigh Voice that President William Ruto has given the first major signal that he is listening to Gen Zs.

“In doing so he must now follow through and create a government that will be accountable and not corrupt. This must not just be broad-based, it must be about competence and delivery to the people and make people’s lives better,” said Bichachi.

Bichachi argued that the fact is that people want to see better, explaining that the future of opposition is now no longer regional or party-based opposition will rise out of the will of the people, not politics as usual.

Ruto announced that the Principal Secretaries will run the affairs of the respective ministries until a new Cabinet is named. Ruto has pledged additional measures, signalling further rearrangement of his government in what is likely to affect more inefficient officials.

Raila's willingness to consider a government of national unity arrangement with Ruto dumbfounded and angered many of his supporters, who took to social media to express their opposition to any deal with Ruto.

Earlier on Wednesday, the ODM party strongly defended the call for national dialogue, insisting that only such talks can help the country navigate the current political crisis.

ODM chairman John Mbadi said in a statement: "In making the call, the party leader (Raila) did what he always does. Raila always helps the country pull back from the precipice whenever we find ourselves there. There can be no doubt that as a country, we are at a crossroads and approaching a precipice. One of us has to be magnanimous and patriotic enough to help call the country to order."

Mbadi noted that national conversations have historically helped resolve political crises in Kenya, citing examples like the Inter-Party Parliamentary Group in 1997 that ended single-party rule, the 2008 post-election dialogue, and the 2017 handshake between Raila and former President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Senate Minority Whip Ledama Ole Kina confirmed plans for a unity government, while ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna defended the party's involvement, stating Raila will not be speaking on behalf of the "leaderless" Gen Z, but rather for Azimio's constituents. "A Government of national unity it is,” Ole Kina said.