Kenyan President William Ruto announced in Nairobi on Wednesday that he would not sign a new tax law passed by parliament following days of violent protest resulting in a number of deaths.
"Having reflected on continuing the conversation around the Finance Bill, and listening to the Kenyan people who say they want nothing to do with this bill, I concede. Therefore, I will not sign the Finance Bill 2024 and it shall be subsequently withdrawn," Ruto told journalists.
Kenyans believe the cost of living will rise considerably if the new law goes into effect.
Ruto justified the law proposed by his Cabinet, pointing to measures that would have been financed by the additional revenue, as well as further consolidation of the national debt and subsidies for farmers and health programmes for those unable to afford health insurance.
It had become obvious that the Kenyan people expected further concessions, Ruto said. The people had spoken, he said.
Ruto announced a programme of cuts in expenditure to finance the government's plans, starting with expenditure on the presidential office. He appealed to parliament and the courts to follow this example.
The president expressed regret at the loss of life in the protests, referring to six deaths in Nairobi on Tuesday. Final figures on deaths and injuries across the country have not yet come in.
Ruto said he would engage in dialogue with the young people who had demonstrated.
