Kenyan President William Ruto announced he would not sign the controversial tax increase bill during a press briefing at the State House in Nairobi on June 26, after deadly protests erupted across the country.At least 23 people were killed, according to reports, during protests across Kenya against the Finance Bill 2024, which proposed austerity measures including tax hikes for individual citizens.Parliament voted to pass the bill on Tuesday, June 25, inciting demonstrators to storm the Supreme Court and Parliament buildings in Nairobi. Ruto deployed military forces in response, resulting in the deaths of at least five people due to gunshot wounds, according to Amnesty International.On Wednesday, Ruto offered condolences to the families of those killed and said he would reject the bill.“Having reflected on the continuing conversation around the content of the Finance Bill 2024 and 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with this Finance Bill 2024, I concede and therefore I will not sign the 2024 finance bill.”Ruto said the bill would be withdrawn and called on the nation to progress in conversation about the affairs of the country “together,” proposing an engagement with Kenya’s young people to discuss their concerns and ideas. Credit: State House Kenya via Storyful