Four out of five Kenyans reject the new ‘broad-based’ government wanted by President Ruto, in the reshuffle needed to try to quell youth protests in the country, and in Nairobi in particular. As is well known, after the storming of parliament last June by Generation Z activists (with many infiltrators who took to the streets just to make a fuss), Ruto had decided to withdraw the controversial Finance Bill 2025, which had been challenged above all for new taxes on the poor people, such as excise duties on bread and oil, which would have raised prices by up to 25%.
The young people were not satisfied with the effort not to sign the law, they took to the streets every week until 8 August to demand the resignation of the president who, after dissolving his cabinet almost entirely, recalled many ministers from the old government, some new members of his coalition, but also four members of the opposition. A move not appreciated by the youth and, as it seems from the opinion poll conducted by Politrack Africa, also by the overwhelming majority of Kenyans. In fact, 81% of those surveyed, a large sample (almost 12,000 people, which would equate to a margin of error of 3%) taken in all 47 counties of the country, are against this new government, while only 18.1% support it.
The doubts are mainly related to the fear of the already ventilated reintroduction of some of the taxes from the cancelled budget. It is no coincidence that the new Treasury Minister has stated that he might consider introducing an eco-tax on imported non-biodegradable products, including sanitary towels and nappies. But there are those who murmur that a broad-based government will lead to a parliamentary majority capable of completely reintroducing the suspended finance bill. Also in view of the fact that the previous one, declared unconstitutional at first, albeit late, by the Nairobi Court, was re-approved on appeal.  It is true that money to mitigate the large public debt must be taken from somewhere, to avoid bowing even more to international monetary institutions and creditor countries, but serious answers to the cancer of corruption, which burns millions of dollars every day, are also expected. A worrying idea comes from Hassan Joho, former governor of Mombasa and newly appointed Minister of Mineral Resources: to start digging under the country, which is rich in gold and rare earths, putting stakes on those who do it in a pseudo-clandestine manner. Joho, however, is also under the lens of activists, who have announced to file a petition calling for the unconstitutionality of his office.
I would say there is no boredom in Kenya these days. The hope is to find a way out that is shared by all. Polls aside, all that remains is to trust in the shrewdness that William Ruto has already demonstrated many times in the past.