After a day of protest, turmoil, and bloodshed, Kenyan President William Ruto addressed the nation with a message of sadness and strength.
Saying “legitimate” protests against his policies had been “hijacked by a group of organised criminals,” he warned his government would use all means at its disposal to prevent a repeat of the violence “at whatever cost.”.
“Today’s events mark a critical point in how we respond to threats to our peace,” he said. “We will ensure a situation of this nature does not recur again.”
The president’s message was an attempt to regain control following days of escalating street protests. On Tuesday, these protests intensified, resulting in at least five fatalities and hundreds of injuries. However, in the longer term, some close to Mr. Ruto may worry that resolving the situation won’t be straightforward and that difficult decisions lie ahead.
Elected in 2022 with promises to combat corruption, stabilize the economy, and support the poor, Mr. Ruto is now confronting significant resistance against a bill he considers crucial for national development. The situation might be more manageable if Mr. Ruto’s opposition were limited to parliament.
An astute political player, deputy president for almost a decade before being elected to the top spot, Mr. Ruto has years of experience navigating the political landscape to accomplish his goals. Now, however, the forces amassed against him are truly beyond his control. A movement that began organically from discontent expressed on social media has evolved into a powerful rebellion, filling the streets of towns across the country.
In the capital, Nairobi, the governor’s office, city hall, and the country’s parliament were all set ablaze this afternoon. The protestors had started the day by threatening a “total shutdown.” By the end of a chaotic and panicked day across the country, marked by the sound of teargas and occasional live fire from police, there is no doubt their fury has been heard.
In response, Mr. Ruto has decided not to yield to the demands of the demonstrators by abandoning his budget but has instead pushed back against them in an effort to calm the country. Some in his government might wonder whether that position can hold and where it leaves his controversial finance bill in the longer term. Mr. Ruto has argued the raft of new taxes are essential to controlling Kenya’s debt—a huge sum of more than $80 billion (£63 billion), which costs the country more than half of its annual tax revenues to service.
Kenya secured a restructuring of its international debt commitments earlier this year—something which immediately boosted the value of its currency. Increasingly seen as one of Africa’s leading statesmen, he recently returned from a state visit to the White House. Mr. Ruto understands the importance to his nation’s economy of avoiding a default on its debt payments.
For those in his government, the calculation was that controlling the state finances by increasing the tax burden was preferable to cutting public services. The bill, due to become law next Monday, originally brought in dozens of new or increased taxes on everything from car ownership and financial transactions to sanitary pads. Several of the most contentious taxes have already been dropped following consultation with the public.
But the controversy over the budget follows other revenue-raising measures introduced by Mr. Ruto, including increased taxes for healthcare and low-cost housing. For those on the street, there’s a third solution available to the government beyond cutting services or raising taxes.
Many blame the country’s financial woes on corruption, with taxpayers wary of paying more amidst a lack of trust over the transparency of the state. For Mr. Ruto, it is perhaps the shadows of this past that make his current position so difficult. He may be a new president, and with a focus on green energy and technology, he’s certainly got new ideas about where he wants to take Kenya. But for many on the streets, Mr. Ruto’s record as a senior figure in government over a period marred by corruption means it’s hard to trust him with their taxes.
Yesterday’s events in Nairobi leave Mr. Ruto seemingly pinned into a tight corner. Facing condemnation for what many Kenyans see as a heavy-handed response to protests in the street, he has chosen to directly take on those he blames for letting the demonstrations spiral out of control. Few of those who came out to have their voices heard in Nairobi and across the country show any sign of giving up. When Mr. Ruto addressed the nation in his inauguration speech last year, he spoke directly to the country’s politically active youth.
“My political journey,” he told them, “similarly began as a young campaign volunteer, fresh out of university.”
“Your experience and lessons learned should form the basis for your leadership journey.”
Now it is a confrontation with a youth-led movement that poses what many consider to be the biggest challenge to authority in Kenya since the country’s independence in 1963. The next few days for Mr. Ruto will be crucial, with a showdown likely to continue between his government and many of its people.
Watch the full press briefing as President Ruto addresses the nation.
