Ruto Stands Firm: No New Elections Amid Crisis

President William Ruto has clarified that the nation will not be holding an election amid the ongoing challenges.

In a discussion with media representatives at the State House in Nairobi today, Ruto emphasized that the Constitution does not mandate the country to hold an election amid the current crisis. The Kenya Finance Bill protests, widely known by the hashtag #RejectFinanceBill2024, have sparked a new generation of young Kenyan activists. These demonstrators are taking to the streets to oppose tax increases proposed by the Government of Kenya in the Finance Bill 2024. Ruto asserts that he bears no responsibility for the lives lost during the recent demonstrations which were initially peaceful but later marred by 'criminal' elements.

The President revealed that property worth approximately Sh2.4 billion has been destroyed since the inception of the anti-Finance Bill protests. He highlighted significant damage to several key government institutions, including a section of the Parliament Buildings, the office of the Chief Justice, and City Hall. Ruto emphasizes that these acts of destruction were perpetrated by individuals who had infiltrated the otherwise peaceful demonstrations.

"I have no blood on my hands," the President declared, addressing the loss of life during the unrest. He disclosed that according to security agencies, 19 individuals had tragically lost their lives. Ruto further expressed his concern stating that such incidents should not be part of the discourse in a democratic society. In response to the fatalities, the President assured the public that investigations are underway and promised that a comprehensive report detailing the circumstances surrounding these deaths would be made available to the public upon completion.

Ruto defended the actions of the police stating that as an independent agency, they sometimes must resort to using rubber bullets and live ammunition to fulfill their duties. The President expressed confidence in the police force's ability to justify their actions during the unrest. When questioned about his prior knowledge of potential criminal activities, Ruto acknowledged that he had been briefed on the scope of possible threats.

He asserted that this information had enabled the authorities to prepare an appropriate response. The President further suggested that without these extensive preparations, the death toll could have been significantly higher. Throughout his address, Ruto maintained a stance of non-accountability for the loss of life while expressing regret for the occurrence of such incidents in a democratic context.