Kenya’s President William Ruto has stood down from signing the controversial Finance Bill 2024 into law after mass protests, especially in Nairobi, the capital of the East African country.

“Listening keenly to the people of Kenya who have said loudly that they want nothing to do with this Finance Bill 2024, I concede and therefore I will not sign the 2024 Finance Bill and it shall subsequently be withdrawn,” Mr Ruto said.

On Wednesday, Kenya youth resumed protests against the Finance Bill, which imposed a tax on some commodities, despite the police clampdown and Mr Ruto’s military deployment to quell the nationwide protests.

“Young Kenyans Ant-tax protesters  Hold a Kenyan flag over a body of a fellow youth Killed by the police during peaceful protests in Nairobi, Kenya,” CNN’s Larry Madowo said on X on Wednesday, posting a photo of protesters who resumed protest in Nairobi despite police clampdown.

The photo shows young Kenyans holding the country’s flag amidst thick tear gas smoke in defiance of police clampdown on protesters. 

While protesters remained on the streets of Nairobi, Mr Ruto withdrew the bill in a broadcast on Wednesday, walking back from his Tuesday broadcast in which he labelled the nationwide protests a “treasonous event” by criminals.

Anti-Finance Bill protests turned bloody as Kenya police fired live rounds at protesters on Tuesday, killing about 10 and leaving about 50 wounded. 

The U.S., UK, Germany and Canadian governments, in a joint statement, expressed concerns as Kenyan police opened live rounds on anti-Finance Bill protesters, killing at least 10 and injuring about 50 on Tuesday.

Former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta declared support for protesters while urging the government to listen to the people.

“Dear Kenyans, I stand with you,” Mr Kenyatta said in a statement on Tuesday, “and I ask our leadership to embrace dialogue.”