Kenyan President William Ruto addressed the nation from the State House in Nairobi, Kenya, on Wednesday. He announced that he will not sign into law a controversial finance bill proposing new taxes. This decision came a day after protesters stormed parliament, leading to the shooting deaths of several people. Img source: AP
June 26, 2024 Story by: Editor
NAIROBI, Kenya — Kenyan President William Ruto has announced his decision not to sign the contentious tax bill into law, following extensive protests across the nation. However, activists have pledged to continue their demonstrations.
According to the Kenya Human Rights Commission, over 20 individuals lost their lives in Tuesday’s protests, with some reportedly shot by police. Protesters also set parts of the parliament buildings ablaze.
“Listening keenly to the people of Kenya who have said loudly that they want nothing to do with this finance bill 2024, I concede, and therefore I will not sign the 2024 finance bill and it shall subsequently be withdrawn,” Ruto declared in a national address on Wednesday.
Ruto acknowledged the widespread dissatisfaction following Tuesday’s parliamentary vote, where the bill was initially approved. He expressed regret over the loss of life and property damage during the protests.
In response, the president indicated his government would implement broader austerity measures, including cuts to hospitality and travel expenses for his office. He has returned the bill to parliament for amendments.
Despite this, protesters have vowed to march again on Thursday, demanding the resignation of the president and all parliament members who supported the bill.
The Kenya Human Rights Commission issued a statement condemning the police’s response to the protests, accusing them of using excessive force, including live ammunition, beatings, and abductions. This has brought renewed scrutiny on the Kenyan police, who have faced criticism for their tactics in the past.
These protests represent the most significant challenge to Ruto’s presidency, with demonstrators claiming he has failed to improve the lives of the millions of young people who voted for him two years ago.
Internationally, the unrest and the police’s heavy-handed response have drawn attention, particularly as the first group of Kenyan police officers arrived in Haiti to lead a United Nations-backed mission to restore peace in the Caribbean nation. This contingent is from the General Service Unit, the same paramilitary group that was overwhelmed by protesters in Kenya on Tuesday.
This situation presents a major dilemma for Ruto, who has positioned himself as a strong ally of Western nations but is now facing serious domestic criticism over his handling of the protests.
The majority of protesters are young people, including college students who identify as “Gen Z.” They have been vocal on social media, rallying significant opposition to the 2024 finance bill.
The bill aimed to raise approximately $2.9 billion in taxes, which the government argued was necessary to manage the country’s substantial foreign debt. However, protesters contended that the new taxes would exacerbate living conditions, increasing costs for essential items such as cooking oil, sanitary pads, diapers, and fuel, thereby making transportation and production more expensive. Source: NPR
