Kenyan President William Ruto announced on Wednesday, June 26, the withdrawal of the contentious 2024-25 budget proposal, which had sparked widespread protests and deadly violence across the country. The demonstrations resulted in 23 fatalities, according to the official human rights body.
“After listening carefully to the Kenyan people, who have clearly voiced their opposition to the 2024 finance bill, I have decided not to promulgate the bill, and it will therefore be withdrawn,” President Ruto declared in a speech, following a day of intense protests against the proposed legislation.
“The adoption of the bill led to widespread discontent, resulting in unfortunate loss of life and property damage,” the president added. The parliamentary vote on Tuesday, where Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza party holds a majority, ignited the anger of protesters gathered nearby in Nairobi. This marked the third day of protests against the bill in just over a week.
The protests escalated as the crowd stormed the Parliament, vandalizing and setting fire to several buildings—a first in the history of Kenya since its independence in 1963. Several NGOs reported that police fired live ammunition at the crowd. Nairobi and other cities also witnessed looting, and buildings were set ablaze in Eldoret, a stronghold of President Ruto in the Rift Valley.
President Ruto has called for a national dialogue in light of the situation. “With the finance bill now off the table, it is essential to engage in a national conversation about our future… How do we collectively manage our debt situation? I will propose an engagement with the youth of our nation, our sons and daughters,” he stated.
The government had argued that the fiscal measures were necessary to provide the country with financial flexibility, given its heavy debt burden (public debt represents about 70% of GDP), and to fund its ambitious 2024-25 budget, which anticipated expenditures of 4 trillion shillings (€29 billion), a record high.
Hanifa Adan, a prominent figure in the anti-government protest movement in Kenya, criticized President Ruto’s announcement as a “PR operation.” “The bill is withdrawn, but will you bring back all those who died?” she questioned on X (formerly Twitter), reflecting the deep frustrations and unresolved grievances of the Kenyan people.
As Kenya moves forward, the call for justice and accountability remains strong, with the nation seeking solutions to both its immediate and long-term challenges.