Kenyan President William Ruto has refused to sign a law that provides for raising the taxesa project that caused massive protests and at least 23 deaths. The law was approved this Tuesdayand immediately afterwards, hundreds of protesters stormed the Parliament. The police fired on the demonstrators to prevent them from entering the building and The Government ended up deploying the army.
Following the events, Ruto assured this Wednesday that he will not sign the bill. Having reflected on the ongoing conversation about the content of the 2024 Finance Bill and listening carefully to the people of Kenyawho said out loud that They don’t want anything to do with this bill. of finance 2024, I admit it and, therefore, don’t sign ithe indicated in a televised speech. The people have spoken.
The bill planned to raise some taxes. Among them, the 5% increase in rates for bank transfers and mobile phone payments, widespread operations in Kenya. Also the 16% increase in the tax on bread, 25% on vegetable oil, and 2.5% for motor vehiclesaccording to The Pass. The law would also give the Administration the ability to move individuals’ money from their bank accounts to enforce those taxes.
On the other hand, the bill included an increase in the prices of personal and children’s hygiene products, in digital products and recording equipment. Faced with the increase in protests, Parliament announced amendments to the draft, but they were not enough to stop the discontent. After the approval of the law, Kenya took to the streets. At least 23 people were killed during the protests, according to the Kenya Police Reform Task Force (PRWG).
The objective of the law is reduce the country’s debt and be able to build roads, supply electricity to rural areas and provide agricultural subsidies, according to The New York Times.
I send my deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their loved ones in this unfortunate way. It is necessary that we, as a nation, take this back and move towards the future, Ruto lamented after the demonstrations. The president has promised budget cuts and austerity measures, according to The Standardto ensure that Kenyans live within their possibilities, respecting the clear message of the people.
Intelligence Director’s resignation called for
Following the protests, Vice President Rigathi Gachagua has called for the resignation of the director general of the National Intelligence Service, Noordin Haji, for not providing enough information about the opposition that exists towards the bill.
President William Ruto would not have pushed the finance bill if he had known two months ago that Kenyans were against it. We have a publicly funded organization to provide that informationexplained Gachagua, who considers the national intelligence service dysfunctional.
The intelligence service failed to do its duty and the reason is clear; Noordin Haji is not qualified to lead the organization, so the security sector was not prepared, he concluded.
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