NAIROBI: Kenya’s President William Ruto on Sunday made first public response to the protesters, who staged nationwide demonstrations this week against proposed tax hikes, by proposing talks to listen and address concerns of them, a presidency official said Sunday.
The protests, led largely by Gen-Z Kenyans who livestreamed their actions, caught the government off-guard amid growing discontent over Ruto’s economic policies.
“Our young people have courageously stepped forward to participate in their country’s affairs. They’ve fulfilled their democratic duty to stand up and be heard. I commend them,” Ruto stated, as quoted by presidency spokesman Hussein Mohamed on X, formerly Twitter.
“We will engage in dialogue with you to understand your concerns and collaborate for the benefit of the nation,” he added, marking his first public response to the protests.
According to rights groups, two fatalities and numerous injuries occurred during Thursday’s demonstrations in Nairobi. While mostly peaceful, the protests faced police deployment of tear gas and water cannons to disperse crowds near parliament.
Starting in Nairobi on Tuesday, the rallies expanded nationwide, culminating in calls for a national strike on June 25.
Ruto’s administration has justified the proposed tax increases as necessary for bolstering government revenue and reducing dependence on foreign borrowing.
