Cabinet Secretary Owalo expresses gratitude as President Ruto dissolves cabinet

Kenya's Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Information, Communications and Digital Economy, Eliud Owalo, has taken to his social media handles including LinkedIn and X formerly Twitter, to express his profound gratitude to President William Ruto for the opportunity to serve as a Cabinet Secretary. This comes as President Ruto has dissolved his entire cabinet, including the attorney-general, effective immediately.

"I thank H.E. President Dr. William Samoei Ruto for granting me the opportunity to serve my Country as Cabinet Secretary. I owe him a great debt of gratitude for the same," Owalo wrote.

Owalo was widely regarded as one of the outstanding ministers in Ruto's government, and his tenure was marked by significant strides in promoting digital inclusion across the country. He was instrumental in driving initiatives that expanded internet access, improved digital literacy, and fostered innovation in the tech sector.

Notably, he launched the innovation hub, which is part of the 1,450 Digital Hubs being rolled out in each Ward across the country. This initiative aims to facilitate digital skilling and digital jobs for the youth, a flagship project under the leadership and tutelage of H.E. President Dr. William Samoei Ruto.

The president's decision to dissolve the cabinet follows recent deadly protests against a controversial tax bill, which led to its withdrawal. President Ruto attributed the decision to "reflection, listening to Kenyans, and a holistic appraisal of my cabinet." He announced his intention to consult widely to form a broad-based government, which will represent various sectors and political formations.

The dissolution of the cabinet does not affect the deputy president or the prime cabinet secretary, who also serves as the foreign affairs minister. Senior civil servants will oversee government operations until a new cabinet is appointed.

By:  Nana Appiah Acquaye/BBC