Forgive us for supporting Finance Bill, Kenyan lawmaker begs protesters
Kenyan member of parliament, Joseph Namuar, on Thursday publicly apologised for supporting passage of the controversial Finance Bill 2024.
Apologising over the Finance bill 2024 during a press briefing on Thursday, Mr Namuar, representing Central Turkana in the parliament, said “If there is a way we did wrong for those of us who voted YES we ask for your forgiveness.”
The lawmakers lauded President William Ruto for withdrawing the Finance Bill, saying “And just the way the president called for a dialogue, we as the president’s soldiers, ask for forgiveness on his behalf.”
Mr Ruto bowed to public pressure, withdrawing the controversial Finance Bill recommending tax on cars, phones, bread, sanitary pads and other commodities, amid nationwide protest on Wednesday.
“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with this Finance Bill 2024, I concede and therefore I will not sign the 2024 Finance Bill and it shall subsequently be withdrawn,” Mr Ruto said in a live broadcast.
Protests against the bill started last week and turned bloody as police fired bullets at the protesters in Nairobi on Tuesday as they tried to occupy the National Assembly.
Defying police clampdown and shootings, protesters eventually broke into the parliament, torching a section and the Supreme Court.
Amnesty International, in a statement on Wednesday, said 23 were killed as police shot at protesters on Tuesday, injuring 200 with 50 abducted.
The human organisation accused Mr Ruto of overseeing massacre of citizen, calling for his trial at the International Criminal Court.
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette
Agriculture
FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology
The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices
Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”
World
New Zealand passes bill making English official language
Spoken by more than 95 per cent of New Zealand’s population, English has now become an addition to Māori and the country’s sign language as official languages.
Lagos
Lagos police intercept truckload of suspected counterfeit drugs
Mr Tijani said preliminary investigation revealed the drugs were destined for distribution to different parts of the country, with some allegedly for neighbouring countries.
Sport
FULL List: Team Nigeria athletes for Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games
Team Nigeria’s 72 athletes, comprising 34 men and 38 women, competed across eight sports categories and won 24 medals.
World
Floods killed 29, injured 129 across Afghanistan: WHO
WHO said at least 300 families were affected in Nuristan and Laghman alone.
NationWide
Paediatrician dispels misconceptions, urges exclusive breastfeeding
Ms Ishola said breastmilk contains all nutrients required for growth, cognitive development and immunity, eliminating the need for formula or water.
States
Borno youths laud govt’s skills programme
The youths said the initiative was bridging skills gaps, tackling unemployment and empowering young people to become self-reliant and economically productive.
