Protests: APRA Commiserates With Kenya Over Tax-induced Crisis

The Executive Council and Members of   the African Public Relations Association (APRA) have condoled with all Kenyans over the recent crisis that hit the country leading to the death of several persons in clashes between protesters and police following recent tax increases in the East African country.

The Secretary-General of   APRA Omoniyi Ibietan, in a statement in response to the mass protests in Kenya, said the pan-African professional body for PR practitioners on the continent “stand in solidarity with our colleagues in the Public Relations Society of Kenya (PRSK).

“We urge the Government of Kenya to put the people of Kenya first and in a show of conversational capacity as already indicated by the Presidency, undertake stakeholder consultations with empathy and openness to reconciliation.

“We commiserate with the families of those who died and wish a speedy recovery to those injured during the protests. We fervently pray for the repose of the souls of the deceased.”

LEADERSHIP had reported that protests spread all over Kenya, following the decision of the country’s parliament to pass a controversial finance bill that seeks to introduce new taxes.

Protesters stormed the parliament in anger and the demonstrations turned violent on Tuesday as police reportedly intervened after it appeared that the MPs were threatened even as more properties were torched.

Following massive protests President William Ruto withdrew the controversial Finance bill that triggered the protests.

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 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.