Finance bill: Ruto ready for talks amid Kenya protests

President William Ruto says he is ready to engage youths who have sustained protests against the recently proposed finance bill.

The nationwide movement began last Tuesday from a social media hashtag.

The protesters say Ruto’s administration has reneged on its pledge to reduce taxes and lower the cost of living, labelling the finance bill as “harsh”.

In the wake of the protests, some parts of the bill have been scrapped, including a 16 percent value-added tax (VAT) on bread, taxes on foreign exchange transactions and financial services, and a 2.5 percent car tax.

The government has now targeted an increase in fuel prices and export taxes to fill the void left by the changes.

Ruto was also said to have remained defiant on his proposals, insisting that he is determined to transform the country, while urging members of parliament to pass the bill.

In a twist on Sunday, the president said he is ready to hold talks with leaders of the protest.

“I am very proud of our young people… they have stepped forward peacefully and I want to tell them we are going to engage them,” Ruto said in his first public comments on the protests.

“And I want to tell you that we are going to have a conversation so that we can identify your issues and work together as a nation.”

The protesters have met stiff resistance in the police, who have used tear gas, water cannon, and rubber bullets to “maintain order”.

So far, one person has been killed and at least 200 injured, according to an alliance of rights groups and the police watchdog.