₦airaland Forum

Kenya’s President William Ruto says he will withdraw a finance bill containing controversial tax hikes after deadly protests which saw parliament set ablaze on Tuesday.

In an address to the nation, he said it was clear that Kenyans "want nothing" to do with the bill.

"I concede," he said, adding that he will not sign the bill into law.

At least 22 people were killed in Tuesday’s protests, according to the state-funded Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNHRC).

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.

"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"And therefore, I will not sign the 2024 Finance Bill, and it shall subsequently be withdrawn. The people have spoken,” he said in the televised address.

The bill was passed by parliament on Tuesday, despite nationwide demonstrations against it.

Protesters broke into parliament, vandalising the interior and setting parts of the complex on fire. The ceremonial mace, symbolising the authority of the legislature, was stolen.

Mr Ruto initially responded with defiance.

He ordered the military to be deployed, saying "violence and anarchy" would not be tolerated.

But he climbed down on Wednesday, as public anger grew over the killing of protesters.

Wanjeri Nderu, head of the International Society For Human Rights, told the BBC what was experienced during the protest was “like we were at war”, adding that police were using live ammunition even before parliament was breached.

Catholic bishops also condemned the actions of the security forces and “earnestly appealed to the police not to shoot at the protesters”, while also urging protesters to remain peaceful.

The Law Society of Kenya called on international criminal investigators to help families' quest for justice, saying that it had reports that soldiers were engaging protesters in parliament.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was "deeply saddened by the reports of deaths and injuries - including of journalists and medical personnel - connected to protests and street demonstrations in Kenya".

He also urged the Kenyan authorities to "exercise restraint", and called for all demonstrations to be peaceful.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3gg30gm0x2o

Who said these people no dey fear

Try such in 9ja

Godszilla:
Kenya’s President William Ruto says he will withdraw a finance bill containing controversial tax hikes after deadly protests which saw parliament set ablaze on Tuesday.

In an address to the nation, he said it was clear that Kenyans "want nothing" to do with the bill.

"I concede," he said, adding that he will not sign the bill into law.

Looks like the protests worked to bring Kenyan leaders in touch with Kenyan citizens.

What happened to the dead? Has their death been withdrawn or reversed. If you let Ogun drink your blood and use you for sacrifice, na you know ooooooo

The people will always win

StreetFight:
What happened to the dead? Has their death been withdrawn or reversed. If you let Ogun drink your blood and use you for sacrifice, na you know ooooooo

People like you will never stand for his children to have a good life. son of Partition

StreetFight:
What happened to the dead? Has their death been withdrawn or reversed. If you let Ogun drink your blood and use you for sacrifice, na you know ooooooo

Are you aware that many in Nigeria have lost their lives as a result of the current hunger, suffering & inaccessible healthcare.

StreetFight:
What happened to the dead? Has their death been withdrawn or reversed. If you let Ogun drink your blood and use you for sacrifice, na you know ooooooo

no matter how you avoid death it will still come, so leave people to live their lives the way they want stop putting fear on people

StreetFight:
What happened to the dead? Has their death been withdrawn or reversed. If you let Ogun drink your blood and use you for sacrifice, na you know ooooooo

People still kpai for yet Dem nor protest this bad government... Na hunger, frustration kill them...some even off themselves

This is the power of a determined people against oppression. Kudus Kenyans! Tribalism will never allow Nigerians to achieve this feat.

Kuto abi wetin b him name needs to learn from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

IT HAS STARTED NO STOPING.

Peter criminal obi and his nuisances that always want the federal government to fail should stage protest of such magnitude!!! Haba, I hear say Una get mind, na true??

If it happens in nigeria,the police,and army that we all buy foodstuffs at the same markets and are suffering the hardship and inflation will be the ones they will send to crackdown and shot at protesters.Zombie

Nigerians should learn from the above... sometimes, protesting works.

Fair enough

Im exchange for any protest na shoot at sight

StreetFight:
What happened to the dead? Has their death been withdrawn or reversed. If you let Ogun drink your blood and use you for sacrifice, na you know ooooooo

The late fela sang about your type. Fear fear. If u no die today, u die tomorrow. Everybody go die. But die doing something good than die for nothing. Bad governance kill more, if you don't know. Fear fear.

nlreserve:
The late fela sang about your type. Fear fear. If u no die today, u die tomorrow. Everybody go die. But die doing something good than die for nothing. Bad governance kill more, if you don't know. Fear fear.

Any massive protest in Nigeria will lead to a bloody revolution

Just like Endsars, Buhari disbanded SARS but the protesters were left to count their loses. I could remember that the headless mobs were excited when Ruto was elected against all odds and was compared to Obi. Whatever they support ends being a failure. The question to Kenyans is, why are they not holding Kenyatta responsible for financial recklessless?, where do they expect Ruto get money to deliver on his promises?.

After alot of deaths

Unpopular policies ought to be trashed

How many people has bandits and bokoharam killed in the last 1yr? Over 1000!

You're giving cowardly excuse why Nigerians shouldn't protest even when they're dying more than countries at war

StreetFight:
What happened to the dead? Has their death been withdrawn or reversed. If you let Ogun drink your blood and use you for sacrifice, na you know ooooooo

Smile, masses don bent govt to their will.
In Nigeria it's the opposite that always happens everyday.b

Atuero:
The people will always win

In Nigeria political class always win. 😂😂😂😂

BewareOf419:
Try such in 9ja

And watch BATerians defend the tax hikes by arguing that the previous government was engaging in borrowings and that the Tinubu government cannot afford to engage in more borrowings.

But curiously, what the Tinubu administration has borrowed in the past one year is more than the entire eight-year borrowings of the Buhari administration.

Sad that lives were lost.

Who said these people no dey fear

Amandla!!!!!!✊

StreetFight:
What happened to the dead? Has their death been withdrawn or reversed. If you let Ogun drink your blood and use you for sacrifice, na you know ooooooo

See big coward, prefers to suffer and smile

Reason Nigeria no get head, coz of cowards like the one here.


As if you'll live forever