Kenyan President William Ruto has commenced consultations to form a “broad-based government” after sacking almost his entire cabinet on Thursday.

The changes are coming following widespread anti-government protests.

The move affected all ministers including the attorney-general but excluded prime cabinet secretary and foreign minister Musalia Mudavadi and Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

Ruto said he decided on the dismissals “upon reflection, listening keenly to what the people of Kenya have said and after a holistic appraisal of the performance of my cabinet and its achievements and challenges”.

The largely peaceful protests led by young Gen-Z Kenyans widened into a broader campaign against Ruto and his government, with some demonstrations degenerating into deadly violence.

Ruto promised to “immediately engage in extensive consultations across different sectors and political formations, with the aim of setting up a broad-based government”.

He said the new government would develop “radical programmes” to deal with the country’s huge debt burden, increase job opportunities, eliminate wastage and “slay the dragon of corruption”.