Kenya: President Ruto ready for dialogue with anti-tax protesters

Kenya’s President William Samoei Ruto has expressed his willingness to engage in dialogue with thousands of young anti-tax protesters, marking a significant shift in response to the mounting discontent over his economic policies.

Speaking on Sunday, Ruto praised the “peaceful” nature of the demonstrations and promised to engage with the youth to address their concerns.

The protests, orchestrated on social media and driven primarily by Gen-Z Kenyans, have taken the government by surprise. Thousands have taken to the streets, livestreaming their demonstrations and demanding the cancellation of recent tax levies.

“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 stated during a church service in Nyahururu, a town in the Rift Valley. “We are going to have a conversation so that together we can build a greater nation.”

Ruto’s comments come amid reports from rights campaigners of two deaths following Thursday’s protests in Nairobi, highlighting the tension and urgency surrounding the situation.

Despite these incidents, Ruto’s characterization of the protests as “peaceful” underscores his administration’s intent to address the grievances through dialogue.

The organizers of the movement have responded by renewing their calls for the government to cancel the levies, setting the stage for potential negotiations and a collaborative effort to resolve the economic issues facing the nation.