President Kenyatta hurls footwear during a public address (VIDEO)
Kenya's political turmoil continues, as shown by the recent shoe-throwing incident at President William Ruto's public address, according to Liter.kz, citing Reuters.
In this chaotic political landscape, Ruto deftly dodged the flying footwear and escaped unscathed. The three rascals responsible for this spectacle were promptly apprehended by the boys in blue.
Since 2024, Kenyan streets have echoed with anger and protest, ignited by the Finance Bill 2024. This ill-received piece of legislation aimed to hike taxes, minting Sh346 billion. This audacious move sparked a fury, particularly among Gen-Z activists, resulting in 39 fatalities and Sh94 million worth of property damage, including damage to the very heart of Parliament [1][3]. In response to the public's relentless uproar, the government abandoned the bill [3].
You don't need a crystal ball to see that public disapproval persists as Kenya gears up for the 2027 General Election. The government treads carefully, knowing full well that another tax hike could spell disaster, especially among the influential younger voter base, who spearheaded the protests against the Finance Bill 2024 [3].
Tensions remain high, fueled by an ongoing controversy over a BBC Africa documentary. Some Kenyan leaders have demanded a ban on BBC Africa, accusing it of presenting a biased portrait of Kenya's political situation [1].
It's clear as day that Kenya's government and public squabble over economic policies and governance, with incidents like the shoe-throwing episode hinting at the underlying discontent.
Ruto suspects that this tactic, reminiscent of past political conflicts, was designed to deflect attention away from the ongoing debates over war-and-conflicts and general news issues, such as the Finance Bill 2024 and the government's economic policies. The ongoing controversy over the BBC Africa documentary raises questions about freedom of the press and the political leadership's accountability in reporting. Despite the apprehension of the three culprits, the political turmoil in Kenya, stemming from the Finance Bill 2024 controversies, seems far from being resolved, especially in the lead-up to the 2027 General Election.
