Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua remarked on Wednesday, June 26, 2024, that had President William Ruto been informed earlier about the public backlash against the Finance Bill 2024, the resulting protests might have been less severe.
In response, Moses Kuria, the cabinet secretary for Public Services, refuted Gachagua’s assertion.
Gachagua further criticized the National Intelligence Service (NIS) in a separate televised address, accusing them of negligence following President Ruto’s decision not to endorse the controversial Bill amidst mounting public pressure. He called for the resignation of NIS Director-General Noordin Haji, labeling the last-minute withdrawal of the Bill by President Ruto as an embarrassment for the administration.
“Ruto deserves better; he needs a competent DG who can effectively analyze situations and keep the government well-informed,” Gachagua remarked from Mombasa.
On the contrary, Kuria denounced Gachagua as dishonest, alleging that the Deputy President was a key figure in the Kenya Kwanza group that advocated for the legislation.
“The Deputy President chaired the committee that initially approved the Finance Bill, which originally included VAT on basic commodities like bread and milk. What a dishonorable and deceptive man!” Moses Kuria stated in a release published on X.
Meanwhile, President Ruto expressed his dissent by returning the draft law to Parliament with amendments aimed at removing every clause.
The Bill aimed to increase taxes to help achieve the government’s target of Ksh346.7 billion in additional revenue for the 2024–2025 budget.
However, what began as peaceful protests led by youth escalated into violence, with police firing tear gas and live ammunition at demonstrators. As of Wednesday, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights reported 22 fatalities from police shootings, with over 300 injuries and 50 arrests.
Despite Ruto’s announcement that he would not sign the 2024 Finance Bill, some protesters on social media vowed to continue their demonstrations on Thursday, June 27.
