Kenya’s Ruto adds opposition figures to cabinet as protests rumble on
Al Jazeera
Despite president’s hope that a new cabinet could quell protests, scepticism remains and rallies continue.
Kenya’s President William Ruto has appointed four members of the main opposition party as part of a new cabinet as protests continue to rock the East African nation
Ruto announced the nominees in an address to the nation on Wednesday. The president had promised to appoint a new “broad-based” cabinet in response to continuing nationwide protests that have threatened his hold on power.
The announcement came two weeks after Ruto scrapped the previous cabinet as the protests, prompted by planned tax hikes, swelled. A clampdown by the authorities helped raise the number of people killed to more than 50, with hundreds more wounded.
The opposition figures appointed to the new cabinet are allies of political veteran Raila Odinga, whom Ruto defeated in elections in 2022.
John Mbadi Ngo’ongo will lead the finance ministry and James Opiyo Wandayi was named energy minister.
