Kenya’s President William Ruto announced that he will withdraw a finance bill containing controversial tax hikes following deadly protests, during which the parliament was set ablaze on Tuesday.
In a national address, he stated that it was evident that Kenyans “want nothing” to do with the bill. “I acknowledge,” he stated, and added that he would not approve the bill as a law.
According to the state-funded Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNHRC), at least 22 people were killed in the protests on Tuesday.
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 the parliament on Tuesday despite nationwide protests. Demonstrators stormed the parliament, damaging the interior and setting fire to parts of the building.
The ceremonial mace, symbolizing the authority of the legislature, was stolen.
Initially, Mr. Ruto responded with defiance, ordering the military to be deployed and stating that “violence and anarchy” would not be tolerated.
However, he changed his stance following an extraordinary demonstration of people power, as “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 clearly explained why he thought the tax increases were necessary. The proposed legislation aimed to reduce the country’s massive debt burden of more than $80bn (£63bn), which currently costs the country more than half of its annual tax revenues to service.
Mr. Ruto also stated that his government was making progress and was on course to “assert sovereignty” by repaying its debts.
He mentioned that the provisions would have benefited farmers, students, and teachers, but he acknowledged that the people were not in support of it, saying, “I also lead people, and the people have spoken.”
It’s uncertain how this change in direction will impact plans to resume the protests, which have largely been organized via social media, on Thursday.
Chatter on social media suggested that the protests would still go ahead. The stated purpose of the demonstrations was to force the president not to sign the bill, but the protesters have now also demanded 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, winning 50.5% of the vote to Mr. Odinga’s 48.8%.
Mr. Ruto won after portraying himself as a “hustler” 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.
