The wheelbarrow is the symbol of President William Ruto of Kenya. the ‘a fraud“-President” was used in his election campaign and was depicted on the presidential sign. In his residential area of ​​Eldoret, this wheelbarrow stood on a high pole as a memorial. As the cry of “Ruto must go” echoed across the country, protesters tore down a wheelbarrow last week.

Ruto backtracked on Wednesday. After massive demonstrations in recent days against his proposed tax increases, he withdrew the bill that addressed that. He is trying to save face while the entire nation demands his resignation.

He said in a press conference: “We must now make cuts in the government apparatus.” “Also in the president’s office,” he added. “We have to fight corruption. We will talk to all parties concerned about a new budget.”

While the head of the Kenya Medical Association says 22 people were killed in police actions against protesters on Tuesday, Ruto stated in his press conference that six deaths were reported.

Increased taxes and the arrogance of the political class led to an explosion of popular anger

High treason

Two years after his election, the image of the Kenyan leader who presented himself as a president of the poor has changed to that of an oppressor of the common man. The broad, white-toothed smile that has defined his image on his many trips abroad gave way to a tense, angry face on Tuesday evening after a day of chaos. On television, he equated the participants in the mass protests against tax hikes with criminals and spoke of high treason.

But a day later he withdrew the controversial bill that would have led to higher taxes. While protesters attempted to occupy Parliament on Tuesday, they planned to take control of the presidential palace on Thursday.

It all started peacefully. Young people, often from the middle class, took action against their so-called smartphones. Finance invoice. Not as usual in Kenya with the help of political leaders, but through platforms like TikTok and X they have been able to get people on their feet across the country.

On Tuesday, those crowds swelled, joined by young people from all social classes, including poor neighborhoods. The police initially fired tear gas at the peaceful protesters, and when they did not stop them, opened fire. The stage was set for a violent confrontation that broke out in the afternoon around Parliament and elsewhere in the country around the homes of parliamentarians who voted for the bill and saw their properties set on fire as punishment.

High taxes and the arrogance of the political class made this explosion of popular anger possible. Kenya is in debt, but not as excessively, as countries like Zambia and Ethiopia, but it is still going strong Nearly 60 percent of government revenue Towards paying it off. Huge debts were incurred under the previous two regimes, when Ruto was deputy president. The money was spent on major infrastructure projects.

So we must tighten our belts. Roto himself recently bought a Stefano Ricci crocodile leather belt worth the equivalent of 2,600 euros. The president and his political colleagues are not averse to showing extravagance through their clothes, vehicles and homes. They often contribute large amounts of banknotes to political fundraisers. There is a huge gap between the ruling class and the people trying to keep their heads above water in these trying times. Dissatisfaction with this exploded.

Superb banking accuracy

Opposition to tax increases has previously led to the unification of mixed populations in many African countries. Anti-colonial resistance in Kenya began in 1922 with demonstrations against the “hut tax” levied specifically on Africans, and eventually evolved into the Mau Mau guerrilla movement in the 1950s. In the 1980s and 1990s, anti-IMF riots broke out across Africa. With cold banking precision, the IMF has demanded cuts in sectors such as education and health care in order to bring public finances in order.

In modernizing Africa, products such as sanitary towels and diapers have become commonplace for a portion of the population, which is a right, as well as access to the Internet. This is exactly where Ruto wanted to raise money through increased taxes. The IMF and Western countries support shock therapy.

“Good morning, fellow criminals“Internet youth opened their social media platforms on Wednesday morning. I am not sure who is behind organizing the protests. Security services began arresting young people everywhere a few days ago, and on Wednesday police and demonstrators were chasing each other in parts of the capital, Nairobi. It will become clear in the coming days whether Ruto can calm the smoldering anger with his concessions, as well as how he will now be able to plug the gap in his budget.

Correction (June 26, 2024): An earlier version of this article stated that more than 70% of Kenya’s GDP goes to servicing the national debt. This is incorrect: about 60% of government revenue goes to servicing the national debt.

To participate





Email the editor