A campaign launched by young people on social media has forced one of Africa’s most well-known leaders to rescind his signature program due to the force of opposition, which was organized primarily spontaneously.
It’s not that Mr. Ruto has come to the realization that his advocacy of the tax increases that infuriated Kenyans to such an extent was incorrect. He really gave a thorough justification of his belief that they were necessary at the outset of his speech to the nation on Wednesday.
He said that his administration had made the difficult decisions required to stabilize the economy and assist Kenya in escaping the debt trap that requires it to pay back its loans with 61 cents of every tax dollar.
He asserted that “redeeming our country from the discomfort of debt and asserting our sovereignty” required passing the budget measure.
That is why it is all the more amazing that the turbulence of the past few days has compelled the beleaguered president to take such a drastic turn.
