Kenya’s president dismisses Cabinet after anti-government protests

Kenyan President William Ruto on Thursday dismissed almost the entire Cabinet following fierce protests against his government. Foreign Minister Musalia Mudavadi was the only exception, Ruto said in a speech at his official residence. The attorney general was dismissed with immediate effect. The duties of the ministers would be taken over by the state secretaries until a new Cabinet is appointed. 'I will immediately engage in extensive consultations across different sectors and political formations, with the aim of setting up a broad-based government,' Ruto said. He promised a 'lean, inexpensive, effective and efficient' new government. Protests over the past three weeks, which included a storming of the Parliament, have been directed against a controversial tax law, Ruto's conduct in office, corruption and the waste of public funds. At least 39 people were killed when the police fired live ammunition at the demonstrators. Source: Ghana News Agency