Kenya’s President William Ruto has indicated his readiness for “a conversation” with a large group of “peaceful” young demonstrators who staged nationwide protests this week against planned tax raises.

The protesters, commencing their protests on Tuesday, claim that President William Ruto’s administration reneged on its promise to lower taxes and reduce the cost of living.

Organized through social media and primarily led by young Kenyans who livestreamed the events, the protests caught the government off-guard, underscoring escalating discontent over Ruto’s economic strategies.

“I am incredibly proud of our youth…they have come forward peacefully, and I want to inform them that we are willing to engage with them,” Ruto remarked in his initial public remarks on the protests on Sunday.

“We will have discussions to collectively build a stronger nation,” he further stated during a church service in Nyahururu, Rift Valley.

However, a protest leader responded by insisting that Ruto needed to “publicly address” the situation.

“If he genuinely desires a dialogue, he must publicly respond to our demands,” remarked Hanifa Adan. Protesters have called for a nationwide strike on June 25.

During the protests, at least 105 demonstrators were apprehended in a forceful crackdown by riot police involving tear gas, water cannons, and rubber bullets, according to five organizations, including Amnesty International.

A representative from the Kenya Human Rights Commission reported to AFP news agency that a 21-year-old named Evans Kiratu succumbed to a tear gas canister injury during the protests.

The Police Watchdog disclosed on Friday that they were probing claims of police shooting a 29-year-old man in Nairobi after the demonstrations.

Impact of tax hikes

Following smaller-scale protests in Nairobi on Tuesday, the financially strained government acceded to retract several tax increases detailed in a new bill.

Nevertheless, after the government rescinded taxes on bread, car acquisition, and financial and mobile services, the treasury cautioned about a 200-billion-shilling ($1.5bn) deficit.

Subsequently, the government aimed to raise fuel prices and export taxes to offset the impact of the modifications, a move criticized for exacerbating the cost of living in a nation grappling with high inflation.

Kenya faces a substantial debt burden, with servicing expenses escalating due to devaluation of the local currency over the prior two years, leaving Ruto with limited choices.

The tax hikes will further strain Kenyans, with many already grappling with surging costs of living and a scarcity of well-paying job opportunities for the youth.

Ruto emphasized on Sunday that the annual budget encompassed initiatives to tackle youth joblessness and enhance access to higher education.

“I assure [the protesters]...that we are attentive to their concerns,” he affirmed.

“We are committed to ensuring every child has access to higher education.”