Kenya’s President, William Ruto, has explained his decision to withdraw the controversial Finance Act bill, which included tax hikes, following the death of 22 individuals in violent youth protests.
He said, “I concede and therefore I will not sign the 2024 finance bill and it shall subsequently be withdrawn”.
The president added, “The people have spoken.”
Meanwhile, Ruto warned that withdrawing the bill will significantly reduce funding for development programs.
Last week, youths frustrated by economic hardship took to the streets to protest against the tax hikes proposed in Kenya’s Finance Act put forward by Parliament.
The largely peaceful rallies turned violent on Tuesday when lawmakers passed the legislation, and police fired live rounds into crowds ransacking the partly ablaze parliament complex.
The state-funded Kenya National Commission on Human Rights reported 22 deaths and 300 injured victims from the protest.
