Kenya’s President William Ruto said he was ready for” a conversation” with thousands of protesters who held civil demonstrations this week to oppose proposed duty increases, an administration functionary said Sunday.
Led largely by Gen-Z Kenyans who have live-streamed the demonstrations, the demurrers caught the government off- guard, as disgruntlement mounts over Ruto’s profitable programs.
” Our youthful people have stepped forward to engage in the affairs of their country. They have done their popular duty, to stand and be recognised. I am proud of them,” Ruto said in quotations participated by administration spokesperson Hussein Mohamed on X, formerly Twitter.
” We will have a discussion with you to identify your issues and work together as a nation,” he added, making his first public commentary on the demurrers.
Two people have failed and dozens of others were injured in Thursday’s demonstrations in the capital Nairobi, according to rights contenders.
The demonstrations were substantially peaceful, but officers fired tear gas and water cannons throughout the day in an attempt to disperse protesters near Congress. The demonstrations started in Nairobi on Tuesday before extending across the entire country, with demonstrators urging for a general strike on June 25.
Ruto’s administration has defended the proposed impositions as necessary for filling its resources and cutting reliance on external borrowing.