A visibly emotional Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has called on the Gen Zs to call off protests planned for Thursday, June 27, 2024.
Speaking to members of the press in Mombasa on Wednesday, June 26, 2024, Gachagua urged the youth who have scheduled another protest on Thursday to stop now that their demands had been met.
“The President has accepted that there was an issue, there was a disconnect and has done the right thing and it is only fair that we call off the protest so that we don’t have further loss of lives and destruction of property,” Gachagua said.
The deputy president noted that he was concerned by the deaths and destruction of property that had been witnessed across the country during the protests.
He blamed the National Intelligence Service for misinforming President William Ruto on the dissatisfaction of members of the public with the Finance Bill 2024, stating that such loss of lives and destruction of property could have been prevented.
“My children are of the same Gen Z. No parent should have to bury their child, especially in such circumstances. I cry for our children; I am unable to bear the pain of innocent young children whose only crime was to air their views in a democratic country, Gachagua added.
Ruto rejects bill
On Wednesday, Ruto declined to assent to the controversial Finance Bill 2024, stating that he had made the decision in line with the popular mood of majority of the Kenyan people.
Ruto said he was putting the bill aside and would engage in austerity measures that would see all organs of government cut their operational costs.
The bill was passed on Tuesday, June 25, 2024, after 195 members of Parliament voted in favour and 106 against with three abstentions.
In a record time, Parliament approved the controversial bill as protesters engaged police in running battles outside Parliament and Nairobi city streets with the hope that President Ruto would sign it into law.
The bill was adopted with amendments including the scrapping of the motor vehicle tax, and removal of VAT on bread and financial services but other taxes like the Railway development levy remained at 2.5 per cent on customs value and 3.5 per cent for the import declaration fee.
“Notwithstanding all these concessions, it became evident that members of the public were still insisting on the need for us to make more concessions,” Ruto added.
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