Kenya's President Appoints Opposition Ministers Amid Protests

NAIROBI, Kenya – In a significant political move, President William Ruto has appointed four ministers from the main opposition party to his new Cabinet, aiming to create a broad-based government to tackle pressing governance issues. This decision comes in the wake of deadly protests that have claimed dozens of lives and led to widespread unrest in the country. The appointments include the minority leader in parliament and the chairman of opposition leader Raila Odinga’s party, despite a rift within the opposition coalition regarding participation in government discussions. The protests, which erupted over a proposed tax bill amid rising living costs, have seen calls for Ruto’s resignation and the dismissal of most Cabinet members. In a statement, President Ruto praised the political parties for their willingness to collaborate for the betterment of Kenya, describing the move as a historic gesture of patriotism. However, Odinga has denied claims of being bribed to join the government, emphasizing that dialogue will only occur once the president addresses the protesters' demands. While the opposition coalition does not lead the protests, which are primarily driven by youth mobilizing through social media, it has expressed support for the demonstrators. The coalition argues that the governance issues raised align with their previous proposals to the government. Ruto has vowed to implement reforms, including a crackdown on corruption, as the nation grapples with a cost-of-living crisis that has resulted in at least 50 deaths and over 400 injuries since protests began on June 18, according to the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights.