Kenya: President Ruto Bows To Pressure, Withdraws Finance Bill Amid Death Of Protesters

Kenyan President, William Ruto on Wednesday conceded to withdraw his assent to the 2024 finance bill seeking to impose more taxes on its citizens.

The withdrawal follows the death of over twenty (20) people protesting a tax hike bill.

Protesters had while protesting the bill stormed the parliament in opposition to the legislation.

President Ruto however warned that the withdrawal of the finance bill would mean a significant shortfall in funding for development programmes targeted at helping farmers and schoolteachers, among others.

The East African nation is currently struggling to lower its foreign debt burden.

READ: Kenya Unrest: Death Toll Climbs To 13 As Protest Continues Wednesday

“I concede and therefore I will not sign the 2024 finance bill and it shall subsequently be withdrawn,” Ruto told a press briefing, adding, “The people have spoken.”

The administration has been taken by surprise by the intensity of opposition to its tax hikes, with protests breaking out across the country last week.

Protesters were largely conducting themselves peacefully until Tuesday when the rallies turned violent after lawmakers passed the legislation and police fired live rounds into crowds that ransacked the parliament complex.

Kenya National Commission on Human Rights said it had recorded 22 deaths and 300 injured victims while vowing to investigate the incident.

Citizens’ frustration over the rising cost of living rose as lawmakers began debating the bill containing the tax hikes last week.

The government had explained that the increases were crucial to service the country’s massive debt of some 10 trillion shillings ($78 billion), equal to roughly 70 percent of Kenya’s GDP.