Kenyan President, William Ruto, withdraws bill on tax increase after violent protests
Kenyan President, William Ruto says he will withdraw a finance bill containing controversial tax hikes after deadly protests which
saw parliament set ablaze on
Tuesday.
In an address to the nation, he said it was clear that Kenyans “want nothing” to do with the bill.
“I concede,” he said, adding that he would not sign the bill into law.
The BBC reports that at least 22 people were killed in Tuesday’s protests, according to the state-funded Kenya National
Commission on Human Rights (KNHRC).
Mr Ruto said he would now enter
into dialogue with the young
people, who were at the forefront
of the biggest protests to hit the
Country since he was elected in
2022.
The bill was passed by parliament
on Tuesday, despite nationwide
demonstrations against it.
Protesters broke into parliament,
vandalising the interior and
setting parts of the complex
on fire.The ceremonial mace,
symbolising the authority of the
legislature was stolen.
Mr Ruto initially responded with
defiance.
He ordered the military to be
deployed, saying “violence and
anarchy” would not be tolerated.
But he climbed down on
Wednesday, following an
extraordinary demonstration of
people power.
“Ruto bows to Gen Z pressure,
withdraws Finance Bill,” read the
headline on Kenya’s Citizen TV.
In his second address to the nation
in less than 24 hours, Mr Ruto laid
out a very clear rationale for why
he thought the tax increases were
necessary.
The proposed legislation was part
of efforts to cut the country’s
massive debt burden of more
than half of its annual tax revenues to service.
Mr Ruto added that his
government had made progress
and was on course to assert
sovereignty” by repaying its debts.
He said the provisions would have
benefitted farmers, students and
teachers, but he admitted the
people were not behind him.
“I also lead people,” he said, “and
the people have spoken.”
It is unclear clear how his
climbdown will affect plans to
resume the protests, which have
largely been organised via social
media, on Thursday.
Chatter on social media suggested
that it would still go ahead.
Chatter on social media suggested
that it would still go ahead.
The stated purpose of the
demonstrations was to force the
president not to sign the bill.
But the protesters have begun
demanding that he step down,
with the slogan “Ruto must go.”
Mr Ruto rose to the presidency
after defeating his main rival Raila Odinga by a narrow margin in the 2022 election.
He got 50.5% of the votes, to Mr
Odinga’s 48.8%.
Mr Ruto won after portraying
himself as a “hustler” who was
challenging an attempt by two
dynasties – the Odingas and
Kenyattas – to hang on to power.
He promised a “bottom-up”
approach to the economy to
tackle the high unemployment
rate among young people, and to
improve the lives of those less well off.
Reported by BBC.
