Kenya’s President William Ruto, on Wednesday, said that he will withdraw a finance bill that includes controversial tax hikes following deadly protests that culminated in the burning of parliament and the death of at least 22 individuals. In a national address, Ruto acknowledged the strong opposition to the bill, stating that it was evident Kenyans “want nothing” to do with it. “I concede,” he said, affirming that he will not sign the bill into law.
All about protests in Kenya
The African country has been blanketed by violent protests since last week. The demonstrations, led by opposition leader and Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, have involved clashes between activists and police, resulting in deaths and injuries. The unrest is driven by accusations of electoral fraud and economic issues, including high taxes and inflation.
On Tuesday, part of Kenya’s parliament building was set on fire by thousands of protesters opposing a new finance bill. Legislators fled the scene during this most significant attack on the government in decades. Journalists reported seeing at least three bodies outside the building where police had opened fire, and medical workers confirmed five other deaths. The violence also spread to other cities.
Odinga and his supporters are demanding electoral reforms and an audit of the 2022 election results, which named William Ruto as president. The police have responded forcefully, using tear gas and live bullets, and making numerous arrests. Human rights organizations like Human Rights Watch have condemned the excessive force and lack of investigation into police abuses.
