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President William Ruto has broken his silence on the ongoing protests by Kenyan youths over the 2024 Finance Bill.
Speaking in Nyahururu on Sunday, Ruto said he was proud of the young people who had stood up in a peaceful manner regardless of tribe and had been recognized.
He said what they were doing was their democratic responsibility and his government would discuss their concerns with them.
The President stressed that his government will work with the youth to build a better country.
“Our youth have stepped up and participated in the affairs of the country. They have fulfilled their democratic obligation to step up and be recognised. I want to tell you that we will have a dialogue with you so that we can identify your problems and we can work together as a country to simplify your problems.
“I am proud of our young people. They have come forward peacefully regardless of tribe. I want to tell them that we will be part of this and together we will build a better country,” Ruto said.
“What I want to encourage them is that we care about their problems.”
He added that in the upcoming financial year, they have allocated funds to create jobs for the youth and enable them to pursue TVET and university education.
Earlier, Kenya’s Generation Z held demonstrations across the country to protest against the “punitive” 2024 fiscal bill.
The President and his deputy, Rigathi Gachagua, went to the Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) Nyahururu Diocese to attend a church service and the consecration and coronation of Major Samson Mburu Gachathi as the third Bishop of the diocese.
Last week, Kenya’s Generation Z staged nationwide protests against the 2024 Finance Bill, demanding a rejection of punitive taxes.
The protests began in Nairobi on Tuesday and in Mombasa on Wednesday. On Thursday, protests were joined by other parts of the country including Kisii, Kisumu, Nakuru, Nyeri, Nanyuki and others.
Despite the protests, 204 MPs voted in favor of the bill, while 105 voted against it.
Since the majority voted in favor, the bill will go to the full House committee for consideration and revisions starting next Tuesday.
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