‘I concede,’ Kenya president, Ruto, backs down on tax hikes after more than 23 die from protests

KENYA – Kenyan President, William Ruto, on Wednesday reportedly withdrew planned tax hikes, bowing to pressure from protesters who had stormed parliament.

Protestants launched demonstrations across the country and threatened more action this week.

A report by Reuters showed that the move would be seen as a major victory for a week-old, youth-led protest movement that grew from online condemnations of tax rises into mass rallies demanding a political overhaul, in the most serious crisis of Ruto’s two-year-old presidency.

But some demonstrators said on social media that despite Ruto’s climbdown, they would go ahead with a rally planned for Thursday, with many reiterating demands he resign.

Ruto announced he would not sign a finance bill including the tax increases, a day after clashes between police and protesters at the assembly and nationwide left at least 23 people dead and scores wounded, according to medics.

“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And therefore, I will not sign the 2024 finance bill, and it shall subsequently be withdrawn,” he said in a televised address with lawmakers, some clapping, seated behind him.

Vice President, Rigathi Gachagua, asked young people to call off the protests to avoid any further loss of life and destruction of property, and blamed the intelligence services for giving the government poor advice.

“There would have been no mayhem, but they slept on the job,” Gachagua said in a speech, calling on the head of the National Intelligence Service to resign. Protesters were defiant, repeating calls for Ruto to step down and vowing further action in the streets.

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