William Ruto Ignores Finance Bill, Pledges to Halt Future Protests

William Ruto Ignores Finance Bill, Pledges to Halt Future Protests

• President William Ruto avoided discussing the Finance Bill 2024 during his address following violent protests
• The protests, initially peaceful and organised by Generation Z on social media, turned deadly on Tuesday, June 25
• Despite the youth's demands to reject the bill, it passed through parliament and awaits presidential assent
• Ruto claimed the protests were infiltrated by criminals and assured the nation that measures were in place to prevent recurrence

Didacus Malowa, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.

Nairobi - The Finance Bill 2024 was conspicuously absent from President William Ruto's address following violent protests in parts of the country.

The protests called by Generation Z after mobilisation on social media have been largely peaceful before they turned violent on Tuesday, June 25.

In their demands, the predominantly youths born after 1996 called on MPs to reject the bill in its entirety rather than amend it.

Their hopes were dimmed after the controversial bill was passed through parliament, awaiting presidential assent to become law.

During the Third Reading of the bill, 195 MPs voted in support of the bill, while 106 voted to reject the proposed law with three spoilt votes.

What did Ruto say about protests

However, in his briefing from state house, the president avoided the bill, instead focusing on chaos at the August House.

Ruto said the country had experienced an unprecedented attack on its democracy, rule of law and the integrity of its constitutional institutions.

The head of state claimed the protests had been infiltrated by criminals, resulting in the destruction of property and death.

"An otherwise legitimate expression of the fundamental rights and freedom of assembly, demonstration, picketing and petitioning of public authorities, by a section of law-abiding citizens of the Republic of Kenya, was infiltrated and hijacked by a group of organised criminals," Ruto said.

What is Ruto's next step after protests

The visibly infuriated Ruto revealed his administration had pulled all the stops to ensure such an event would never happen.

"I assure the nation that the government has mobilised all the resources at the nation's disposal to ensure that a situation of this nature will not recur again, at whatever cost," he added.

He lauded security officers for applying what he described as "the best of their abilities in the defense of Kenya and its people."

Did police shoot protesters at the parliament building?

Peaceful anti-finance bill protests escalated into chaos following the passage of the controversial Finance Bill 2024 by a majority of Kenya Kwanza MPs, advancing it to the next stage.

Furious youths overwhelmed police forces in an attempt to gain access to the National Assembly after the MPs passed the controversial Finance Bill 2024.

What you need to know about anti-finance bill protests

• Interior CS Kithure Kindiki declared that the Kenya Kwanza administration would protect Kenyans' constitutional right to picket and present petitions to government officials.
• Raila Odinga said the political situation in Kenya needs the intervention of the East African Community (EAC), the African Union (AU), and the United Nations (UN).
• Nearly 40 anti-finance bill protesters who were wounded by gunfire were taken to Holy Family Basilica near the parliament.

Proofreading by Asher Omondi, current affairs journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.