STORY: Kenyan president drops tax proposals amid deadly protests, announcing austerity measures
SHOOTING TIME: June 26, 2024
DATELINE: June 28, 2024
LENGTH: 00:04:13
LOCATION: Nairobi
CATEGORY: POLITICS

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the press conference
2. various of Kenyan lawmakers at the press conference
3. SOUNDBITE (English): WILLIAM RUTO, Kenyan President
4. various of Kenyan lawmakers at the press conference
5. various of protests in Kenya

STORYLINE:

Kenyan President William Ruto on Wednesday announced that his government had dropped tax hike proposals, which had sparked nationwide protests since June 18 when the financial bill was first made public.

Speaking at a news conference in Nairobi, Ruto said his government would institute austerity measures across the board after withdrawing the tax measures. "I am directing immediate austerity measures to reduce expenditure. Allocations for confidential votes in the presidency will be reduced, as well as travel and purchase of motor vehicles," he said, adding that these measures would apply to counties and ministries.

Lawmakers passed the tax proposals contained in the Finance Bill 2024 Tuesday, as the government sought to raise an additional 346.7 billion shillings (about 2.67 billion U.S. dollars) to fund its 31 billion dollar budget for the financial year 2024-2025.

"Following the passage of the bill, the country witnessed protests and the destruction of constitutional institutions. Listening keenly to the people of Kenya, who have said loudly that they want nothing to do with this Finance Bill 2024, I concede and therefore will not sign it, and it shall subsequently be withdrawn," Ruto said.

SOUNDBITE (English): WILLIAM RUTO, Kenyan President
"I run a government, but I also lead people, and the people have spoken. On the continuing conversation around the content of the Finance Bill 2024, and listening keenly to the people of Kenya who have said loudly that they want nothing to do with this Finance Bill 2024, I concede, and therefore I will not sign the 2024 finance bill, and it shall subsequently be withdrawn."

He noted that the austerity measures will be implemented across the government, including the Executive Office of the President, Parliament and Judiciary. Without the new taxes, he said, the government would shelve some development programs amounting to around 1.58 billion dollars. Some projects would be delayed, others postponed or canceled altogether.

Ruto also announced that his government would decisively deal with corruption to end wastage, one of the issues cited by protesters. To unify the country and chart a new way forward, he called for a meeting with various stakeholders, including the youth, to listen to their concerns.

"There is a need as a nation to pick up from here and forge ahead together into the future. After getting rid of the Finance Bill, we will have a conversation as a country on how we manage the mounting debt and budget deficits, and we will engage young people and listen to their views," Ruto said.

At least six people lost their lives and some 214 others were injured in Tuesday's protests, Ruto said, adding that he regretted the deaths and that the government would come up with a framework to ensure they were accounted for.

Independent sources, however, said that the number of those killed in Tuesday's protests had risen to 13. The Nairobi City County Government confirmed a total of 12 bodies, with six at the City Mortuary and six at Mama Lucy Hospital mortuary, who were shot during the demonstrations, while one more was shot dead in western Kenya.

The president's concessions were received with relief across the nation, with many Kenyans hopeful that peace would prevail. "I am happy with what the president said today. This is what Kenya needs to move forward. There should be no more protests and deaths," said office worker Grace Kanini.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Nairobi.
(XHTV)