Kenyan President Ruto Rejects and Withdraws Controversial Finance Bill

Kenyan President William Ruto has withdrawn and rejected the contentious Finance Bill 2024 following widespread protests and violence across the country on Tuesday, June 25.

Protesters stormed the National Assembly, setting part of the parliament building ablaze and clashing with police. The demonstrations, led by youth, were ignited by the passage of the Finance Bill 2024, which introduced unpopular tax proposals.

The demonstrators demanded that MPs reject the bill, expressing concerns over the impact of new taxes on the economy and ordinary citizens. Despite the government’s efforts to justify the new taxes as necessary for funding spending programs and reducing the debt burden, the protests continued to gain momentum.

Businesses were shut down, transport was paralyzed, and police engaged in running battles with demonstrators, using rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse the crowds.

In a surprise move, President Ruto announced on Wednesday, June 26, the withdrawal and rejection of the Finance Bill 2024 in response to the widespread unrest.

In a televised address, he stated, “Listening keenly to the people of Kenya who have said loudly that they want nothing to do with this Finance Bill 2024, I concede. And therefore, I will not sign the 2024 Finance Bill, and it shall subsequently be withdrawn.”

He further remarked, “Following the passage of the bill, the country witnessed widespread expression of dissatisfaction with the bill as passed, regrettably resulting in the loss of life, destruction of property, and desecration of constitutional institutions. I send condolences to the families of those who lost their loved ones in this unfortunate manner. Consequently, having reflected on the continuing conversation around the content of the Finance Bill 2024, I will decline to assent to the bill.”

“Accordingly, as I committed on Sunday, I propose an engagement with the young people of our nation to listen to their issues and agree with them on their priority areas of concern. I also propose that within the next 14 days, a multi-sectoral, multi-stakeholder engagement be held with a view to charting the way forward on matters relating to the content of the bill as well as auxiliary issues raised in recent days on the need for austerity measures and strengthening our fight against corruption.”