- The citizens want the embattled president to step down for a new government committed to “transparency, accountability, and good governance.”
As the political unrest and social upheaval that have enveloped Kenya for days continue, the citizens of the East Africa nation have now given President William Ruto a 48-hour ultimatum to resign.
The citizens want the embattled president to step down for a new government committed to “transparency, accountability, and good governance.”
In a statement that has now gone viral on twitter, the citizens said Ruto has changed and they no longer recognised him.
The statement read in part “We no longer recognise William Ruto as the President of Kenya. We recall his presidency and urge him to immediately resign and surrender his office to the Kenyan people.”
This statement has generated lots of engagement, underscoring widespread distrust and discontent among the citizens towards Ruto’s government.
Despite withdrawing the controversial finance bill that proposed tax increases, public outrage and massive protest have not abated.
The bill, which was intended to address Kenya’s debt of approximately 10 trillion shillings ($78 billion), or roughly 70% of GDP, faced fierce opposition.
Ruto highlighted that without the tax increases, there would be a significant funding shortfall for critical development programmes, including those supporting farmers and teachers.
Kenyans for some months now have been grappling with economic instability, rampant corruption, and governance issues, leading to escalating living costs and high unemployment rates.
The financial bill is the last straw as the citizens trooped to the street in protest against it as it could potentially worsen their socio-economic conditions if passed.
Scores of protesters took to the streets, expressing their dissatisfaction with the administration, which they describe as plagued by “incompetence, mismanagement, and a persistent failure to address the nation’s pressing needs.”
Kenyan police were said to have fired rubber bullets and tear gas at demonstrators while soldiers were deployed and roads leading to Ruto’s office at State House and parliament were blocked by police in anti-riot gear