Kenyan President Williams Ruto has withdrawn the Finance Bill from the parliament. He made the conciliatory speech this morning at the State House in Nairobi.
The Finance Bill has been a focal point of protests by young Kenyans as it progresses through parliament. The government’s attempts to amend the bill by exempting items from the increased tax it required were met with strong opposition, with protesters demanding the complete abandonment of the bill.
“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,” Ruto said on Wednesday morning.
“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.”
The power of people is stronger than the people in power. The Gen Z's have done us proud. God bless Kenya. pic.twitter.com/QO4wKcPob0
— Mike Sonko (@MikeSonko) June 26, 2024
He appealed to protests to sheath their sword now the bill is gone.
“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. He promised to meet the young people in Kenya and listen to what ideas they actually have in dealing with the fiscal crisis of the economy.
In his speech yesterday, Mr. Ruto gave no indication he was backing down but rather described the protests as “treasonous” and called in the military to dominate the streets. It seems the president has had time to sleep over his judgment.
It’s yet to be seen how people on the ground accept the olive branch. Many protesters have since said they’ve gone beyond the issue of the finance bill. Some openly calling for President Ruto to go, and others for a total revolution against the system.
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