Kenyan President William Ruto has announced rejecting and withdrawing the contentious Finance Bill. This decision came just a day after violent protests that led to the killings of citizens by the police in the country.
I concede, Ruto said in his address, acknowledging the widespread opposition and unrest the bill had sparked.
The Finance Bill, which had faced significant criticism from Kenyans, led to massive demonstrations and turned deadly, leaving some protesters dead.
CNN reporter Larry Madowo highlighted the severity of the situation, stating, “President William Ruto could have withdrawn the Finance Bill a few days ago and saved lives. But he was obstinate, and I watched police shoot protesters dead for no reason at all.”
MY instant reaction: President William Ruto could have withdrawn the Finance Bill a few days ago and saved lives. But he was obstinate, and I watched police shoot protesters dead for no reason at all pic.twitter.com/W3H4oXzlpt
— Larry Madowo (@LarryMadowo) June 26, 2024
In an earlier address, President Ruto had referred to the protests as being hijacked by criminals, suggesting that legitimate grievances against the bill did not solely drive the unrest.
Despite these claims, the intensity of the public outcry and the violent crackdown by law enforcement forced the government to reconsider its stance.
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