- After days of protests, Kenya’s President William Ruto has announced that he will not sign the tax law passed by parliament.
- Previously, the Kenyan parliament had approved the use of the military in a special session to secure infrastructure and to support the police during the protests.
- People have been taking to the streets for days because of a controversial tax reform.
After days of protests in Kenya’s capital, President William Ruto announced that he would not sign the tax law passed by parliament. “It will be withdrawn,” he told journalists in Nairobi. This “respects the loud message coming from the Kenyan people.”
The East African country’s defense minister had previously announced that the military would be deployed on the streets. Opposition MPs raised doubts about the legality of the parliamentary decision, which was passed within an hour and behind closed doors.
People in Nairobi have been protesting against the tax increase for days. On Tuesday, hundreds of demonstrators stormed the parliament. Parts of the building were set on fire and furniture was destroyed, as several international news agencies reported. Television images showed smashed windows and destruction in the parliament building.
At that time, the third reading of the controversial tax law was taking place in parliament. According to media reports, the MPs had to flee the building through basement corridors.
Controversial tax law causes discontent
More people were killed in the protests than previously thought: at least 22 people were killed and another 30 people were injured by gunfire, the Kenya Medical Association said.
In the late afternoon, the City Hall, the regional government building in Nairobi, was set on fire and partially looted, as television images showed. Looting and burning vehicles, as well as peaceful demonstrations, were also reported from other parts of the country.
A highly controversial tax law was put to a vote in parliament on Tuesday. Many people fear that the law will further increase the cost of living. Churches and business representatives have also spoken out against the law.