Just 24 hours after the 2005 referendum former president, Mwai Kibaki, made an announcement that was aimed at firing both cabinet and assistant cabinet ministers.
In a televised address to the nation, the president declared vacant the offices of all ministers and assistant ministers.
According to Kibaki, the move was aimed at reorganizing the government to make it more cohesive amid calls from various government officials.
“Following the results of the referendum, it has become necessary for me, as the president of the republic, to reorganize my government to make it more cohesive and better able to serve the people of Kenya,” he said.
The directive by the former president came after he conceded that his camp had lost its bid to have voters adopt the first major changes to then 42-year-old constitution.
In that constitution referendum, a bigger number of voters rejected the new charter which was aimed at retaining near absolute powers for the office of the president.
The charter was vehemently opposed by some members of the of President Kibaki’s cabinet.
This was a sign of division in the government and a growing disenchantment with the president. Due to this, the president decided to sack the ministers and their assistants in a move he said was meant to have a cabinet that had the confidence and the trust of the people.
“In accordance with the powers conferred upon me under the constitution of Kenya, I have directed that the officers of all ministries and all assistant ministers become vacant,” said Mr. Kibaki in a televised address.#historytoday