Kenyan President William Ruto has allowed citizens to stage street demonstrations, saying it’s a constitutional right.
While meeting the leaders of the Amani National Congress (ANC) at State House in Nairobi on June 19th, President Ruto said there was nothing wrong with the ongoing street protests held in different cities in Kenya against the Finance Bill 2024.
“Civil society can do what they want; we are a democratic country. Those who want to demonstrate it are in their right; no problem, but decisions have to be made by institutions,” Ruto said.
Ruto also added that every institution has a role to play, and the public has played its part.
“We will make decisions as an executive, take them to the legislature, and the and the people of Kenya will speak to them through public participation; others will subject them to court processes. That is how democracy works, and I am a great believer in democracy,” Ruto added.
The protests, which started on Tuesday, June 18, 2024, had many Kenyans run to the streets of Nairobi to protest against the Finance Bill 2024, which many Kenyans say has oppressive clauses on taxes on different items.
Among the protested taxes are tax on bread, mobile money, Mpesa, vehicles, banking services, and excise duty on imported eggs, onions, and tomatoes.
The demonstrations continue in major cities in Kenya, such as Kisumu, Eldoret, Nakuru, Mombasa, Nairobi City, and many others.
