Massive protests force Ruto to cancel controversial finance bill

Kenya has witnessed significant political unrest over the past year stemming from widespread protests against tax hikes and corruption that erupted in mid-June 2024. The protests reached a boiling point on June 25, 2024, when thousands of demonstrators stormed the parliament building during critical budget debates. This public outcry compelled President William Ruto to reverse his stance on the controversial finance bill, which had been a central issue of discontent among citizens. In the wake of the protests, the police response was harsh, with reports indicating that at least 60 lives were lost. Rights organizations documented that more than 80 individuals were reported missing after being abducted by security forces during and following the protests. Amid this turmoil, a series of subsequent events unfolded, including the resignation of the Police Inspector-General, indicating a significant response to public anger regarding the police's handling of the protests. In July 2024, Ruto took drastic measures, sacking much of his cabinet and forming a unity government in an attempt to appease the aggrieved populace. Furthermore, on September 20, three individuals who had previously disappeared during the demonstrations were freed after a court imposed contempt sanctions on the acting police chief for failing to clarify their whereabouts. By November 5, Human Rights Watch released a report detailing the unlawful detention of protesters, revealing systematic issues with police operations in Kenya, which involved multiple security agencies in the abductions. Following these events, protests persisted in December over continued abductions, including those of a satirical cartoonist and citizens sharing critical political commentary. As the nation moved into early 2025, Ruto's administration faced ongoing scrutiny as human rights violations continued to emerge. The government was set to present a new budget in June 2025, carefully crafted to avoid the pitfalls of 2024. This time, the focus shifted towards businesses rather than increasing consumer taxes, addressing the soaring cost of living while attempting to mitigate public unrest. Analysts speculated that the new budget would likely not incite levels of public anger witnessed the previous year. However, concerns remained that the adjustments could still have adverse effects on small businesses, as potential increases to income taxes and the removal of some tax holidays could hamper economic recovery efforts. Overall, the trajectory of recent events in Kenya illustrates the impact of public dissent on governmental policy, highlighting an ongoing struggle between the government and its citizens regarding accountability and human rights. The unrest may have subsided temporally, yet it reflects deeper issues rooted within the socio-economic framework of Kenya, which are challenging the legitimacy of the current administration. As protests arose not only over tax issues but also human rights abuses, the government remains under pressure to restore public trust and facilitate meaningful political dialogue to dissipate growing discontent across various sectors in society.