In a surprising move, Kenya’s President William Ruto expressed willingness for “a conversation” with young protesters who have taken to the streets nationwide to oppose proposed tax increases. The demonstrations, which began on Tuesday, highlight the growing discontent over Ruto’s economic policies and the administration’s failure to fulfill its pledge to reduce taxes and lower the cost of living.
Why government and President William Ruto choose conversation with youth protesters?
The protests, primarily organized through social media by young Kenyans, caught the government off-guard. Many protesters live-streamed the events, drawing significant public attention and participation. In his first public remarks on the protests, Ruto acknowledged the peaceful nature of the demonstrations and commended the youth for stepping forward.“I am very proud of our young people… they have stepped forward peacefully, and I want to tell them we are going to engage them,” Ruto said on Sunday during a church service in Nyahururu, a town in the Rift Valley.
He continues by accepting conversations with youth protest in the country to keep peace in country.
“We are going to have a conversation so that together we can build a greater nation.”However, protest leader Hanifa Adan emphasized the need for Ruto to “respond publicly” to their demands, which include a national strike planned for June 25.
The weeklong demonstrations have remained largely peaceful but have faced a harsh response from the authorities. A joint statement from five groups, including Amnesty International, noted that at least 105 protesters were arrested in a violent crackdown by riot police employing tear gas, water cannons, and rubber bullets. A 21-year-old protester, Evans Kiratu, died in hospital after being hit by a tear gas canister, according to the Kenya Human Rights Commission. Furthermore, allegations have surfaced that a 29-year-old man was shot by police in Nairobi following the demonstrations, prompting a police watchdog investigation.
The protests follow smaller-scale demonstrations in Nairobi earlier in the week, which led the cash-strapped government to agree to roll back several proposed tax hikes outlined in a new bill. Despite scrapping levies on bread purchases, car ownership, and financial and mobile services, the treasury faces a 200-billion-shilling ($1.5 billion) shortfall.
To address this, the government now plans to increase fuel prices and export taxes, a move critics argue will exacerbate the already high cost of living. Kenya’s economic challenges are compounded by a significant debt burden and the depreciation of the local currency over the past two years, which has increased debt servicing costs. Amid these fiscal pressures, Ruto stressed on Sunday that the annual budget includes measures to tackle youth unemployment and improve
access to higher education.
“What I want to assure [the protesters]… is that we are concerned about their issues,” he said. “We are going to ensure that every child has access to higher education.”As the nation awaits Ruto’s detailed response, the call for dialogue signifies a potential opening for addressing the grievances of Kenya’s youth in the face of economic hardships.
