Kenyan President William Ruto on Wednesday withdrew the controversial Finance Bill 2024 following a day of violent protests. Kenya witnessed violent protests on Tuesday as thousands took to the streets to oppose government tax hikes amid an ongoing economic crisis. Internet services were disrupted across several regions as tensions escalated following reports of police firing on protesters, resulting in multiple deaths.
International media sources reported bodies on the streets as police deployed tear gas to disperse crowds attempting to storm the Parliament building to block the Finance Bill 2024. The bill, triggering nationwide demonstrations dubbed “7 Days of Rage,” caught the government off guard, prompting President Ruto to express readiness for dialogue with protesters over the weekend.
NetBlocks, a global internet monitor, reported a “major disruption” in Kenya’s internet connectivity on Tuesday amidst deadly clashes in Nairobi against the #RejectFinanceBill2024 protests.
Kenya Human Rights Commission confirmed police shooting at protesters outside Parliament, with casualties reported. At least 50 people sustained gunshot wounds, with 45 admitted to Nairobi’s Kenyatta National Hospital for treatment, including surgeries. No fatalities from the demonstrations have been reported thus far.
Auma Obama, activist and half-sister of former US President Barack Obama, was teargassed during a live CNN interview while protesting the controversial finance bill in Nairobi. The incident highlighted the escalating confrontation between demonstrators and law enforcement.
Parts of Kenya’s Parliament building caught fire after demonstrators breached police lines and entered the complex, underscoring the severity of the unrest. Calls for President Ruto’s resignation echoed amid protests in other cities and towns nationwide.
Finance Bill Controversy
The Finance Bill aims to generate an additional $2.7 billion in taxes to alleviate heavy national debt burdens, where interest payments alone consume 37% of annual revenue. Despite government concessions to remove proposed taxes on essentials like bread and cooking oil, protests persist as the bill progresses toward presidential approval after parliamentary endorsement.
