Kenya’s president turns around: – The people have spoken

At least 23 people were killed when police fired on the protesters in Nairobi yesterday. Many thousands of heavy people had turned up to protest the government’s new tax law, which would have made everything from mobile phones to sanitary napkins much more expensive. Inside parliament, the politicians had approved the tax increase. A shot protester is carried away after the parliament building was stormed in Nairobi today. Several hundred people made it past the barricades. Photo: Andrew Kasuku / AP Kenyan President William Ruto was due to sign the controversial budget today, but reversed at the last minute. – The people have spoken, says the president. – I admit this and therefore I will not sign the financial budget 2024, it will be withdrawn, says Ruto to the press. Protesters help the wounded outside the parliament building in Nairobi. Large protests against the tax law and vandalism have also been reported elsewhere in the country. Photo: Luis Tato / AFP 96 received hospital treatment Across Kenya, young people protested against the government’s new tax increases yesterday. Several buildings were vandalized. – They must listen to us, we are against the tax law, say the young protesters Stella Kioko and Miles to news. They say that the police attacked the peaceful demonstrators for no reason. Hundreds of protesters entered the parliament building, which was partly on fire and vandalized. Kenya is a republic in East Africa and has 54 million inhabitants. The country struggles with corruption, poverty and ethnic contradictions. Both Swahili and English are official languages. – 214 Kenyans were involved in various small battles and many of them had to go to hospital, 95 of them received treatment and were released, says Ruto. Published 26.06.2024, at 16.16 Updated 26.06.2024, at 16.23



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