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Kenya’s Finance Bill 2024, initially introduced in May, successfully passed its second reading in Parliament with a majority vote of 205 to 115, advancing it to the committee stage. However, President William Ruto has chosen not to assent to the bill, instead sending it back to Parliament for further consideration.
The bill has sparked widespread outrage among citizens due to its economic implications, introducing new taxes on essential items like edible oil, bread, and sanitary pads. The hashtag #RejectFinanceBill has trended online, reflecting the public’s strong opposition.
Proposed by the Kenyan government for the 2024/25 tax year, the bill aims to raise $2.7 billion in additional taxes to reduce the budget deficit and state borrowing, leading to nationwide protests. These protests have resulted in at least five fatalities and left numerous individuals, including journalists and paramedics, injured.
Amid the turmoil, Kenya has experienced a significant drop in internet connectivity, with networks across the nation seeing a nearly 40% decrease on Tuesday, June 25. This has raised public concerns that the outages might be intentional to limit the dissemination of information and media coverage.
The Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) has denied plans to shut down the internet or degrade connectivity quality, yet suspicions persist among the populace.
While President Ruto has delayed signing the bill, it remains uncertain when or how the raised concerns will be addressed. Reports indicate that the President’s office is expected to make an address to the nation soon.
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