Protest: Kenyan President Withdraws Controversial Finance Bill

Following massive protests that rocked the Kenyan capital, Nairobi and other parts of the country President William Ruto has withdrawn the controversial Finance bill that triggered the protests.

The protests left about six people dead as demonstrators and police officers clashed when they invaded the Parliament building where some of the lawmakers are taking shelter as the protests turned deadly on Tuesday.

President Ruto in a television address on Wednesday said “Having reflected on the continuing conversation regarding the content of the finance bill 2024, and 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.”

“The people have spoken,” Ruto said. “Following the passage of the bill, the country experienced widespread expression of dissatisfaction with the bill as passed, regrettably resulting in the loss of life, the destruction of property and desecration of constitutional institutions.”

Young Kenyans were angered by the finance bill in a nation facing multiple economic crises amid rising costs of living.

The government had lastweek scrapped some tax increases, including a proposed 16% value-added tax on bread along with taxes on motor vehicles, vegetable oil and mobile money transfers. However, these concessions were not enough to assuage the protesters.

“I send my condolences to the families of those who lost their loved ones in this very unfortunate manner,” Ruto added.

“There is need for us as a nation to pick up from here and go into the future,” Ruto said, adding that he will hold an engagement with young people in Kenya to listen to their ideas and proposals.