Kenyan president William Ruto has withdrawn a bill which sparked deadly protests in Nairobi, saying he was “respecting the loud message coming from the people”.
After 22 people were reportedly killed in violent protests on Tuesday which also saw part of Kenya’s parliament building burnt, Mr Ruto said he would no longer be introducing unpopular new financial laws which would have hiked taxes for Kenyans.
Protesters said the bill would have put yet more pressure on ordinary citizens and businesses trying to grapple with the high cost of living.
The government claimed it wanted to raise funds to pay off debt.
“We will live within our means, respecting the loud message that is coming from the people of Kenya,” the president said.
He said many of the 214 people “involved in various skirmishes” were taken to hospital, 95 of whom were treated and released.
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Thousands of people stormed parliament on Tuesday, making it the biggest assault on Kenya’s government in decades.
The chaos on Tuesday led Kenya’s government to deploy the military as Mr Ruto called protesters’ actions “treasonous.”
At least 22 people were killed, the Kenya National Human Rights Commission said.
Commission chairperson Roseline Odede said 300 others were injured and 50 people were arrested.
Authorities said police fired over 700 blanks to disperse protesters in the Nairobi suburb of Githurai overnight. Videos of the gunfire were shared online.
Opposition leader Raila Odinga condemned the killing of protesters and “brute force” of authorities and called for dialogue, asserting that Kenya’s constitution had been suspended.
“Kenya cannot afford to kill its children just because the children are asking for food, jobs and a listening ear,” Mr Odinga said in a statement.
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