In Nairobi [Kenya], Kenyan President William Ruto on Wednesday withdrew the controversial bill to increase taxes that sparked massive violent protests across the country in which 27 people died, CNN reported.
Ruto's decision not to sign the finance bill came after violent clashes broke out in the country.
"Having reflected on the ongoing conversation about the content of the 2024 Finance Bill, and listening carefully to the people of Kenya who have said loudly that they want nothing to do with this 2024 Finance Bill, I admit and therefore I will not sign the 2024 Finance Bill,” Ruto said during a television address on Wednesday.
"The people have spoken," Ruto said. "Following the passage of the bill, the country experienced widespread expression of dissatisfaction with the bill as passed, which unfortunately resulted in loss of life, destruction of property, and desecration of constitutional institutions."
However, despite Ruto accepting their key demand to scrap the bill, protesters in Kenya say they will press ahead with a "Million People March" on Thursday.
A poster was widely shared on social media, calling on people of all generations to return to the streets across the country on Thursday and block roads leading to the capital Nairobi.
Some protesters have also called for people to occupy State House in Nairobi.
Kenya, a nation often praised for its stability, has been seeing escalating protests over the bill, which the government introduced to control public debt, CNN reported.
Last week, the government scrapped some tax increases, including a proposed 16 percent value-added tax on bread, along with taxes on motor vehicles, vegetable oil and mobile money transfers. But the concessions were not enough to quell protests amid rising costs of living.
Protests turned deadly on Tuesday when security forces fired tear gas and live ammunition at protesters.
Dramatic scenes unfolded in the country's capital, Nairobi, as government buildings were set alight and a ceremonial mace was stolen from parliament in the melee. Kenyan lawmakers were evacuated from parliament as police attacked protesters, CNN affiliate NTV Kenya reported.
At least 23 people were killed in the violence, according to the Kenya Police Reform Working Group (PRWG), a civil society organization.
The PRWG alleged in a statement published by Amnesty International Kenya that police attacked unarmed young protesters in front of parliament and that the violence continued into the evening. They added that "reports show that police shot several people in Githurai, Nairobi, one of them more than 40 times, between 10pm and 1am, long after the protest ended."
This contrasts with the details given by Ruto, who said in his speech that six people died.
According to CNN, Ruto's change of heart came as a surprise to some who noted his hardline stance just a day earlier.
During a nationwide address after the parliament fire, Ruto said Tuesday's events were a serious threat to "national security" and that the conversation about the bill had been "hijacked by dangerous people."
Ruto's decision not to sign the finance bill came after violent clashes broke out in the country.
"Having reflected on the ongoing conversation about the content of the 2024 Finance Bill, and listening carefully to the people of Kenya who have said loudly that they want nothing to do with this 2024 Finance Bill, I admit and therefore I will not sign the 2024 Finance Bill,” Ruto said during a television address on Wednesday.
"The people have spoken," Ruto said. "Following the passage of the bill, the country experienced widespread expression of dissatisfaction with the bill as passed, which unfortunately resulted in loss of life, destruction of property, and desecration of constitutional institutions."
However, despite Ruto accepting their key demand to scrap the bill, protesters in Kenya say they will press ahead with a "Million People March" on Thursday.
A poster was widely shared on social media, calling on people of all generations to return to the streets across the country on Thursday and block roads leading to the capital Nairobi.
Some protesters have also called for people to occupy State House in Nairobi.
Kenya, a nation often praised for its stability, has been seeing escalating protests over the bill, which the government introduced to control public debt, CNN reported.
Last week, the government scrapped some tax increases, including a proposed 16 percent value-added tax on bread, along with taxes on motor vehicles, vegetable oil and mobile money transfers. But the concessions were not enough to quell protests amid rising costs of living.
Protests turned deadly on Tuesday when security forces fired tear gas and live ammunition at protesters.
Dramatic scenes unfolded in the country's capital, Nairobi, as government buildings were set alight and a ceremonial mace was stolen from parliament in the melee. Kenyan lawmakers were evacuated from parliament as police attacked protesters, CNN affiliate NTV Kenya reported.
At least 23 people were killed in the violence, according to the Kenya Police Reform Working Group (PRWG), a civil society organization.
The PRWG alleged in a statement published by Amnesty International Kenya that police attacked unarmed young protesters in front of parliament and that the violence continued into the evening. They added that "reports show that police shot several people in Githurai, Nairobi, one of them more than 40 times, between 10pm and 1am, long after the protest ended."
This contrasts with the details given by Ruto, who said in his speech that six people died.
According to CNN, Ruto's change of heart came as a surprise to some who noted his hardline stance just a day earlier.
During a nationwide address after the parliament fire, Ruto said Tuesday's events were a serious threat to "national security" and that the conversation about the bill had been "hijacked by dangerous people."