Kenya's president says he won't sign the finance bill that led protesters to storm the parliament
Kenya's president says he won’t sign into law a finance bill proposing new taxes that prompted thousands of protesters to storm the parliament on Tuesday
NAIROBI, Kenya — Kenya's president said Wednesday he won't sign into law a finance bill proposing new taxes that prompted thousands of protesters to storm the parliament the previous day, leaving several people killed as police opened fire. It was the biggest assault on Kenya’s government in decades.
The government wanted to raise funds to pay off debt, but Kenyans said the bill would have caused more economic pain as millions struggle to get by. Tuesday's chaos led authorities to deploy the military, and Kenyan President William Ruto called protesters' actions “treasonous.”
He now says the proposed bill caused “widespread dissatisfaction” and that he has listened and “conceded.” It's a major setback for Ruto, who came to power vowing to help Kenyans cope with rising costs but has seen much of the country — led by its youth — unite in opposition to his latest attempted reforms.
«It is necessary for us to have a conversation as a nation on how… do we manage the affairs of the country together,” he said.
Kenyans faced the lingering smell of tear gas and military in the streets on Wednesday morning, a day after the protesters' act of defiance that Ruto had called an “existential” threat. Parliament, city hall and the supreme court were cordoned off.
At least 22 people were killed, the Kenya National Human Rights Commission said, and police were accused of some shooting deaths. Chairperson Roseline Odede said 50 people were arrested.
Ruto acknowledged there were deaths, without elaborating, called it an „unfortunate situation” and offered condolences. He also said about
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