Protests continue after Kenyan President forced to backtrack on tax hikes

Roadblocks and heavy security measures were deployed Thursday, June 27, in the face of fresh protests convened on social media as angry Gen Z-led Kenyans indicated they were not to be appeased by President William Ruto’s climbdown on tax hikes. Tear gas was used to disperse groups who had started to gather in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi.

This followed shocking scenes of civil unrest that left 22 dead and many more injured on Tuesday, June 25, forcing Ruto to row back on his Finance Bill 2024. “Listening keenly to the people of Kenya who have said loudly that they want nothing to do with this Finance Bill 2024, I concede,” he said in a televised address to the nation on Wednesday.

According to Associated Press, the protests began on June 18 across the country when the bill was first made public, reaching their zenith on Tuesday when thousands congregated in Nairobi and stormed parliament, setting areas ablaze and leaving some of it gutted.

Police were out in force and began to shoot after water canons and tear gas failed to disperse the crowds. Daniel Mwangi, 32, told journalists on the scene, “We don’t have work so we can be here [protesting] every day. If we can’t find something to live for, we will find something to die for.”

Among those killed was the 19-year-old unarmed son of Edith Wanjiku who told journalists at the morgue that the police responsible for his death should be tried for murder. “He had just completed school and was peacefully protesting,” she said, according to The Guardian.

As he announced his U-turn, President Ruto expressed regret for the loss of life resulting from the unrest, despite describing the protests as “treasonous” the previous day. “I send my condolences to the families of those who lost their loved ones,” he said.

The Finance Bill was among a raft of austerity measures meant to address Kenya’s deficit which stands at 3.3%, according to Reuters. But Ruto’s ticket into office was a promise to tackle the rising cost of living in the country which the austerity measure could only exacerbate.

The revolt was led by young digital activists who mobilized followers on social media platforms such as TikTok, X – formerly Twitter – and Instagram, and who view Ruto’s climbdown as a victory.

Now, Ruto has asked for dialogue with the youth movement as well as civil society, religious organizations and law makers to hammer out a strategy that will address the cost of living crisis and also the country’s debts.

Opposition leader Raila Odinga also called for dialogue in the wake of the violence. “Kenya cannot afford to kill its children just because the children are asking for food, jobs and a listening ear,” he said.

But many believe it is time for Ruto to go and a number of protestors are demanding continued rallies to try to force Ruto’s resignation. Boniface Mwangi, a renowned social justice activist, called for a “1-million-people march,” on Thursday, June 27 on X.

Photo: The People's Watchman on X

“We refuse to be silenced,” Mwangi said, adding “The arrogance is gone, but the lies are still there. Yesterday [Tuesday] they unleashed goons and police to kill peaceful protestors. That will not stop us.”

Opposition politicians are also asking for Ruto to step down. Former vice president, Kalonzo Musyoka posted on X: “Many Kenyans died. Many Kenyans suffered serious injuries. It is currently beyond the Finance Bill 2024.” #Rutomustgo.

Ruto is caught between a rock and a hard place. Even if his concession on the Finance Bill 2024 keeps unrest at bay for now, he is feeling the heat from both an economically squeezed electorate and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) which is demanding a reduction in the deficit in exchange for further financing.

Kenya is considered a bastion of stability and relative prosperity in an otherwise volatile region – the growth forecast for 2024 stands at 5% – making the current unrest more concerning in a wider context.

The IMF is keeping a keen eye on the situation. “We are deeply concerned about the tragic events in Kenya in recent days… Our main goal in supporting Kenya is to help it overcome the difficult economic challenges it faces and improve its economic prospects and the well-being of its people,” it said in a statement.

The Finance Bill 2024 is now due to be overhauled with tax hikes on basic food products such bread and oil scrapped while others will be introduced in a bid to balance books. The unrest looks likely to continue, however, with fuel prices expected to exacerbate the cost-of-living crisis next month.

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