President William Ruto on Thursday chaired a special cabinet meeting, to chart of the future of the country.
The meeting comes in the backdrop of a series of protests from youthful Kenyans and after the protests turned violent, having been infiltrated by criminals.
“The Cabinet met today and was briefed on the security situation in the country following days riots,” read a statement from Statehouse.
The meeting was informed that though the riots began as a protest against the tax measures proposed in the Finance Bill 2024, they were infiltrated, hijacked and taken over by criminal and opportunistic political forces.
“The two groups have in the past two weeks reigned terror on the people of Kenya in the cities, towns and other urban areas, occassioning loss of life, destruction of National and County governments’ buildings, infrastructure, vehicles, homes and businesses,” the statement further read
“Due to the threat posed to Parliament, the Supreme Court and other infrastructure, the Cabinet was informed that all national security agencies, including the military, were deployed to forestall the break down of law and order.
“Cabinet was also informed that the security agencies have stabilised the situation and are continuing to monitor the developments.”
Members of the cabinet lauded security officers for being professional and preventing the country from falling into anarchy.
However, security officers who acted beyond the will be dealt with accordingly.
“The Cabinet also called for action against those who have committed heinous crimes of arson, looting and robbery, among others, saying such atrocities must not go unpunished,” the report further read.
During the meeting, Ruto said that the government should develop a plan for the country’s future.
With regards to the withdrawn Finance Bill, President Ruto said the National Treasury is reorganising the budget to accommodate the new reality.
This will include substantial cutting down of budgets to “balance between what to be implemented and what can wait”, and ensuring that key national programmes are not affected.
“Our plan is good and solid and, in the fullness of time, we shall be vindicated,” President Ruto said.
On other agenda, the Cabinet discussed the implementation of the Kenya Urban Improvement Project in the Nairobi Metropolitan Area.
This includes the phased out upgrade of the 163km Nairobi Commuter Rail. The first phase of the upgrade will comprise improving the 58km commuter rail between the Nairobi Central Railway Station and Thika.
The project will also include acquisition of new locomotives and improvement of non-motorised transport infrastructure, and feeder roads along the Nairobi Commuter Rail network.
The Cabinet also approved the following Bills policies:
Kenya Secondary Education Equity and Quality Improvement Programme
Kenya-United Arab Emirates Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement
Co-Hosting of the Second Edition of the African Continental Free Trade Area Youth Symposium on September 5-7, 2024
Public Finance Management (Amendment) Bill 2024
Ratification of Bilateral Air Services Agreements between Kenya and various countries, including Somalia, Morocco, Algeria, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Guinea, the United Kingdom and South Korea.
