- Protesters feel overwhelmed by the rising cost of living and cannot fathom a further increase.
- Police conduct could also draw international scrutiny in the country’s peak esteem, as it leads a significant deployment in troubled Haiti, with troops landing on Tuesday, June 25, 2024.
Kenya has recently been at a standstill due to recurrent tension surrounding the controversial Finance Bill 2024. This follows a series of youthful demonstrations across the Nation, which sought to trash the Bill in its entirety.
Protesters feel overwhelmed by the rising cost of living and cannot fathom a further increase, hence their provoked nature despite the government scrapping several proposals from the final version.
Citizens do not seem moved by the President’s excuses for hiking taxes, which are: creating jobs and increasing domestic revenue. They are saddened by a feeling of betrayal by the 195 representatives in Parliament who voted “Yes”, undeterred by the unsatisfied public voice.
The uproar quickly morphed and took a ruinous form with the destruction of Parliament infrastructure, occasioning a high spirit towards the State House’s same fate, a drive propelled by the “1 Million People March” set for Thursday, June 27, 2024.
These demonstrations have captured the global spotlight with international media houses featuring the events under compelling headlines.
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CNN encapsulated the happenings under the caption, “Anger boils over as Kenya’s cost of living protests shake the nation,” mentioning the stab in the back by the Kenya Kwanza regime, which vowed to prioritize people at the grassroots level during campaigns.
Aljazeera also incorporated the incidents under the headline, “Kenya on boil as anti-tax protesters killed in police fire: All to know,” confirming the deaths of dozens and over 300 injured in the crossfire.
Police conduct could also draw international scrutiny in the country’s peak esteem, as it leads a significant deployment in troubled Haiti, with troops landing on Tuesday, June 25, 2024.
President Ruto has, however, bowed to the pressure from the week-old protests, saying he will not sign the Bill to its ascension and, therefore, sending it back to the bicameral house for re-voting.
BBC seized the moment with the banner, “Kenyan President vows to restore order after deadly tax hike protests,” alluding to the fact that the President has acknowledged the demonstrations and has promised to hold talks to address the concerns of the youth by withdrawing the Bill. But is that what they want?
“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,” President Ruto said during a televised Press Address on June 26, 2024.
