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☆ Kenya rocked by fresh protests despite president’s U-turn over tax bill
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-27 | by ( Nimi Princewill | Larry Madowo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Police in Kenya fired tear gas on protesters as a fresh wave of demonstrations swept the country, despite President William Ruto’s U-turn on controversial tax plans. In a surprise move on Wednesday, Ruto said he would not sign the finance bill, saying he had been “listening keenly” to the Kenyan people. “It’s more than about the finance bill now,” Maria, a Kenyan protestor from Nairobi told CNN. Some have called on President Ruto to resign for failing to withdraw the unpopular bill much earlier to save the lives lost. Others are seeking justice for the deceased protesters and demanding the recall of lawmakers who voted in support of the finance bill.

Persons: William Ruto’s U, ”, Ruto, ” Maria, Daniel Irungu, “, Mwangi, Moody’s, Herman Manyora, ” Manyora, ” Ruto, Manyora Organizations: CNN — Police, House, Security, State House, Kenyan, CNN, Civic, Law Society of Kenya, Monetary Fund, International, University of Nairobi Locations: Kenya, Nairobi, East, Kenya’s

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — The Kenyan High Court on Tuesday struck out key clauses of a contentious finance law that has been blamed for significantly raising taxes and the cost of living in East Africa’s largest economy. High court judges David Majanja, Christine Meoli and Lawrence Mugambi said parts of the Finance Act 2023, including a mandatory housing levy, were unconstitutional and couldn't be enforced. The housing levy is a significant agenda of President William Ruto, who has pledged to construct 1 million homes by 2027 under his affordable housing program already underway in parts of the country. It led to mass protests in the capital, Nairobi, and parts of western Kenya where the opposition enjoys big support. “Every day we receive notifications from employers on their intent to declare redundancy,” the federation said.

Persons: David Majanja, Christine Meoli, Lawrence Mugambi, couldn't, William Ruto, Herman Manyora Organizations: Kenyan High Court, Monetary Fund, Federation of Kenyan Employers Locations: NAIROBI, Kenya, East Africa’s, Nairobi

CNN —Concerns over Kenya’s human rights record have cast a shadow over a UN decision that gave Kenya the go ahead to lead an armed multinational force to Haiti amid brutal gang violence in the Caribbean country. For a year, the multinational force, comprising 1,000 Kenya police personnel is expected to combat criminal gangs responsible for a wave of killings, kidnappings and rape in Haiti. But human rights groups argue that Kenya’s history of human rights abuses must be evaluated. On Tuesday, Amnesty International Kenya urged UN member states, human rights organizations and citizens to thoroughly examine the “human rights and humanitarian implications” of deploying an armed multinational force to Haiti. What stake does Kenya have to be able to take those chances in a terrain that is foreign and dangerous?

Persons: Alfred Mutua, William Ruto, Ruto, “, ”, ” Ruto, Herman Manyora, Ruto’s, ” Manyora, Manyora Organizations: CNN, UN, Kenya, Amnesty International Kenya, Kenya National Civil Society Center, Kenya Police Service, Citizen Digital, Kenyan, UNSC, United Nations General Assembly, Union, Biden, US, University of Nairobi Locations: Kenya, Haiti, Caribbean, East, ”, African, Nairobi

CNN —A wave of deadly protests has hit Kenya as anger over tax hikes and the cost of living spilled into the streets. Brian Inganga/APHowever, 10 months after being sworn into office, the cost of living has continued to rise, and the raft of new tax hikes have only made living conditions worse. But many Kenyans are unhappy about these policies that continue to worsen the country’s cost of living crisis. There’s a very high cost of living, and they already have many levies and taxes on their pay slips. The opposition leader Raila Odinga and his Azimio la Umoja (One Kenya) coalition have led calls for protests over hikes.

Persons: WIlliam Ruto, Here’s what’s, Herman Manyora, Ruto, Brian Inganga, he’s, ” Manyora, ”, Nagudi, “, Raila Odinga, Odinga, Opiyo Wandayi, lobs, Thomas Mukoya, Moses Odhiambo Organizations: CNN, UN, Veteran, AP, Kenyan, CNN . Riot, Reuters, Kenya Locations: Kenya, Nairobi, Mathare, COVID, Mlolongo, Machakos county

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