Kenyan President William Ruto said Wednesday he would not sign a bill proposing new taxes, a day after protesters stormed parliament and several people were shot dead.
The Kenyan president’s decision comes the day afterhe biggest attack on the Kenyan government in years.
The government wanted to raise money to pay off the debt, but Kenyans said the bill increased economic pain as millions struggle to get by. Tuesday’s chaos led the government to deploy the army, and Ruto called the protesters’ actions a “betrayal.”
The president now says the bill has caused a “widespread dissatisfaction” and that he listened to the people and “caved in.” It is a major setback for Ruto, who came to power promising to help Kenyans cope with rising costs, but has seen much of of the country to unite to oppose his latest attempt at reforms.
“It is necessary for us to have a conversation as a nation about how to manage the affairs of the country together,” the president said.
Kenyans faced the lingering smell of tear gas and military presence on the streets a day after the latest protests saw thousands storm parliament, an act of defiance Ruto called “existential” threat. HASAt least 22 people were killed, a human rights group said.
Ruto acknowledged the deaths, calling the “unfortunate” situation and offered his condolences.
The capital, Nairobi, has seen protests in the past, but activists and others have warned that the stakes are more dangerous. Ruto vowed on Tuesday to quell the unrest “at all costs”, as more protests were planned at State House on Thursday. Soldiers patrolled alongside police, accused of shooting several people dead on Tuesday.