Kenya’s Opposition Leader and former Prime Minister, Raila Odinga says President William Ruto’s administration must immediately and unconditionally withdraw the Finance Bill to end the impasse and bloodshed in the country.
Raila Odinga expressed concern saying “The government has unleashed brute force on our country’s children and more seems to be on the way. We cannot allow that. We can’t and won’t tolerate any extra minute of this murder spree and violence that could have been and can still be avoided. Kenya cannot afford to kill its children just because the children are asking for food, jobs and a listening ear.”
In a statement, the opposition leader pointed to the precedent set by the previous government in suspending tax increases on petroleum products during a similar standoff.
He urged the government to suspend the current Finance Bill and continue with the Finance Act of last year.
“Kenyans will recall that when there was a standoff in the last Parliament over calls for the reduction of tax on petroleum products from 16 per cent to 8 per cent, the then Jubilee government agreed to suspend that provision and fell back on the old Finance Act until a consensus was reached. The same can happen today, with the government suspending the current Finance Bill and continuing with the Finance Act of last year.”
“The starting point to ending this impasse and cruel bloodletting is for the government to immediately and unconditionally withdraw the Finance Bill and make way for a fresh start and dialogue.
Raila Odinga further urged the government to end the violence being meted out on citizens calling for the arrest of the police officers who shot and killed protesters on Tuesday.
“Without these first steps, nobody should imagine that the current situation is going away any time soon and nobody must imagine that Kerryans will sit back and watch police butcher their children in defense of policies whose consequences are a pervasive chilling effect on citizens, particularly the youth.
I am calling on the East African Community, the African Union and the United Nations to immediately be seized of the unfolding situation in Kenya to save lives and the country.”
The protestors have been demonstrating for days against the controversial Finance Bill that includes several tax hikes.
Read also: Kenyan president faces tough choices after day of bloodshed
However, on Tuesday the demonstration escalated after the bill was passed in parliament.
Read the full Statement Below
Source: Aba Aikins/ATLFMNEWS
