Kenya's President Ruto withdraws finance bill after at least 22 killed in protests | BBC News

Summary

Kenya's President William Ruto has withdrawn a controversial finance bill that led to nationwide protests, resulting in at least 22 deaths and the ransacking of Parliament. The public outcry goes beyond the bill, reflecting broader discontent with perceived corruption and the opulent lifestyles of the president's allies. Despite the bill's withdrawal, there is debate over its legal status and the president's call for dialogue with the leaderless, young protesters has been met with skepticism.

Takeaways

• 🏛️ The Kenyan president, William Ruto, has scrapped a finance bill that led to widespread protests across the country.
• 🚨 At least 22 people were killed during the demonstrations, which included the ransacking of Parliament and City Hall.
• 📢 There are mixed opinions among the protesters about continuing to demonstrate, especially near the State House, a protected area.
• 🤝 The president has called for an open dialogue with the young people, who have been leading the protests.
• 💭 The protests are not solely about the finance bill; there is broader dissatisfaction with perceived corruption and the lifestyles of the president's allies.
• 💰 Concerns have been raised about the budgeting for offices that are not constitutionally recognized, such as the office of the spouse of the Prime Cabinet Secretary.
• 📉 The government has officially notified the speaker of parliament of its decision to decline the finance bill, effectively revoking it from becoming law.
• 🤔 There is ongoing legal debate about the implications of the president's decision, especially considering Parliament is currently in recess.
• 📚 The finance bill, an amendment bill, has all its amendments revoked, but there are questions about the legal process required to ensure it does not become law.
• 🗣️ The demonstrations have been leaderless, making dialogue and engagement with the protesters challenging for the government.
• 📅 The situation is fluid, with the potential for further protests and developments in the coming days.

Q & A

What was the main reason for the protests in Kenya?

The protests in Kenya were primarily provoked by a finance bill that the people did not want.

Who scrapped the finance bill in Kenya?

The finance bill was scrapped by the president of Kenya, William Ruto.

How many people were reported to have been killed during the demonstrations in Kenya?

At least 22 people were killed during the demonstrations.

What was the status of the Parliament and City Hall during the protests?

The Parliament was ransacked, and the City Hall was affected by the protests.

What is the current sentiment among the young protesters in Kenya?

There is a split among the young protesters; some are determined to continue the protests, while others are being urged against it, particularly marching to the State House.

What are the broader grievances of the Kenyan people beyond the finance bill?

The broader grievances include perceived corruption, the opulent lifestyles of the president's close allies, and budget allocations for non-constitutional offices.

What is the office that is not constitutional according to the protesters?

The office of the spouse of the Prime Cabinet Secretary is mentioned as an example of a non-constitutional office that protesters question the budget allocation for.

What has the president of Kenya proposed in response to the protests?

The president has called for an open dialogue with the young people, considering the leaderless nature of the demonstrations.

What is the current status of the finance bill that was withdrawn?

The government has officially notified the speaker of parliament that the president declines to assent to the bill, and it has been sent back to Parliament with recommendations to revoke all amendments.

What is the legal uncertainty regarding the finance bill despite the president's decision?

There is a legal discussion about what the president's decision means, given that Parliament is on recess and, by law, the bill could still become law even if the president does not assent to it.

What is the challenge in engaging with the protesters due to their leaderless nature?

The challenge is that any attempt by an individual to assume leadership has been denounced by the group, who prefer to remain as equals agitating for change, making it difficult to engage with them as a large, collective group.