Kenya's president addresses nation after five killed in protests | BBC News

Kenyan President William Ruto addressed the nation on Tuesday evening after protests over tax rises.
At least five protesters were shot dead by police in Kenya and a section of parliament went up in flames as demonstrations against new tax proposals escalated on Tuesday.
President William Ruto pledged a tough response to what he called the "violence and anarchy".
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was "deeply saddened by the reports of deaths and injuries" and urged the Kenyan authorities to "exercise restraint", and called for all demonstrations to be peaceful.
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#Kenya #KenyaProtests #BBCNews

[@ReStablish]

Ruto is the ONLY criminal Kenya has

[@sylviahkinyangi9892]

Him talking about us being criminal was he not taken to Hague? ICC please come take this man ,we are tired of him

[@simulationkoyo]

This is oddly similar to what Trump did.

[@nolafrancis6314]

​@@sylviahkinyangi9892voted him out

[@idiamin4015]

Just like in Uganda museveni is only criminal in Uganda and he’s rwandese you wonder

[@user-pv7cc9yo9x]

He should rather go Now.i don't blame the people these greedy rich politicians need to be taught a lesson.Ruto must go.😯🫢🙆‍♂️🤦‍♂️

[@josepharthur6269]

This is not about criminals it’s your bad governance what a shame

[@nooboftheyear7170]

No its about them actually collecting taxes which was pretty lax in times past.

[@Anteater01]

​@@nooboftheyear7170It is about bad governance, corruption, and overtaxation.

[@nooboftheyear7170]

@@Anteater01 i thought corruption happened in nigeria! 😂😂 Is it taking a holiday in kenya or has it decided to live there?

[@Anteater01]

@@nooboftheyear7170 Can you imagine the president using 10,000,000 dollars on furniture for statehouse, in one year 😂 or renovating the Deputy Presidents residence for 6,000,000 dollars while it was built using 2,000,000 dollars, that's Kenya.

[@nooboftheyear7170]

@@Anteater01 but yes I can. That's some potential misrepresentation you're dishing out there considering when it was built, innovations since it was built, requirements that would have evolved with the times. From a furnishings point of view, that probably doesn't include the mandatory marble finishes that might be designated as renovation costs. You might think that he should receive foreign dignitaries, e.g., King Charles or the Emperor of Japan in a mud hut or something similar but your president needs to show that Kenya is a country of worth. When putin or xi arrives in your country they should be humbled. After all, they come to africa to steal or deal from you, they don't come to give you for nothing unless, that is, you're completely stupid and it does seem to me that they're treating you like fools.

[@kubatilukoye4821]

God Bless Kenya 🇰🇪🫡

[@AngeloKuot]

These are not criminals they're people asking for their right to be given to them by the country authorities.

[@jajajejehjune4301]

People who use violence are criminals. People who protest peacefully are excersinig their constitutional rights. There is a big diffrence beetwen those two.

[@itsDaVe2]

The real problem isn't debt payment, it's the amount of money the government and their agencies are allocating to themselves. While the normal citizen suffers, the politicians and their family and friends are getting richer

[@user-hw3zb4sc8q]

They are a disgrace to their people, shame on them. Like ireland, they don't want to hear what the people are saying, and them living the high life.

[@betty71595]

And they borrow money from IMF, use it for their Families & Luxurious lifestyles, then they want to raid every cent in our pockets for taxation to pay back the IMF debts yet the money borrowed went to their own lifestyles of living large at our expense🤔

[@zamzakibin9675]

RUTO MUST GO🤝 #REJECTFINANCEBILL

[@ck-sl3kt]

for what?

[@Mia-bz]

I am just wondering if the taxe hikes excludes the police and the military. Situation like this i expected a military take over,not a collaboration with an ICC criminal

[@chimwemwemuwalo2426]

Just imagine, the police neither the military we as well suffer the same pain

[@ade008]

Do you mean those Israeli trained "law enforcement"? Trained to protect unarmed civilian life?

[@nooboftheyear7170]

The tax rises are to pay china back for the loans they grant for infrastructure deals. This is a known issue. This isn't imf if you listen to the commentary. The chinese loans may be more accessible than the imf BUT their interest rates are higher plus...they also secure their loan on sone lucrative natural resource deposit. Biblically speaking it reminds me of when hezekiah showed the visiting princes of what he had and The Lord said they'll be coming back for it later (after he died).

[@ade008]

@@nooboftheyear7170 There's no way you'd know this, but... almost a cliche. Keep trying though. 🤗

[@nooboftheyear7170]

@@ade008 why? Do you think I came here to comment as an outsider because I have nothing better to do? The facts were laid out in the video. There are a number of channels that have discussed silk road developments, financing, final product, debt management / restructuring. And note that there are some private chinese banks involved as well. Those interest rates will be higher I suspect.

[@user-vd8oq7it6v]

Tomorrow be ready we are going to enter State House #Ruto must go

[@isaiahotumobo3096]

Nigerian youth wake up, we are experiencing worst in Nigeria yet we keep silent. Kenyans have not seen half of the predicament we face here in Nigeria

[@lusarshameli7057]

He is calling all Kenyans criminal because we don't want IMF to rule our country.

[@eyelon2216]

same in pakistan

[@misdangered4326]

Don’t allow it, once they have you you will never be free.

[@alastairjhunter3666]

IMF is the US

[@nooboftheyear7170]

The protest isn't anything to do with the imf, this riot is to do with chinese money and raising taxes to pay back chinese loans for unwanted and probably tofu dreg infrastructure projects (poor quality) that the chinese built for the kenyan government. There are rumours that the chinese playbook usually includes kickbacks for the ministers involved in the projects but simply looking up the term 'tofu dreg' on google will show why the people probably have at least a little justification. Also the china show channel on youtube as shown last friday illustrates why I would be skeptical of any project proposing china build critical infrastructure

[@EzraTeter]

This newscast tried to pretend that Chinese debt was a bigger deal. That actually inspired me to look that information up. Being that it is the BBC we can be pretty certain that it is shite.

[@ndichu.]

Ruto is Kenyans problem He should GO! FINAL

[@inwani]

Irony is that the Kenya government has unconstitutionally sent Kenya police to Haiti to restore order and unconstitutionally deployed the Kenyan military at home to restore order! The right to protest is inalienable. No reason or excuse to deploy lethal force.

[@TopgangCulture]

For real

[@czarkusa2018]

It's just how things are these days. Remember when The British Empire didn't just kill Gandhi? That is never going to happen in our world.

[@ring-tone278]

Ruto has lost control and is not serving Kenyans anymore but foreign Interests and himself. A failed Presidency.

[@simulationkoyo]

This is too similar to Trump.

[@nooboftheyear7170]

From what the video said, he followed the african trend of taking chinese money. That money has to be paid back or they're going to exploit that kenyan resource that they secured the debt on. To give you an idea of how this works, it might be copper or gold or diamonds and they lend a few billion but secure it on a resource containing hundreds of billions if not trillions. Get the money paid. Don't let the chinese laugh at you.

[@lanzortiz3199]

​​@@nooboftheyear7170😂😂 nice try buddy. You european far right or trumper? 😂of course blame the chinese. If you bother to research or at least read the comments, most kenyan protest is about the bill increasing tax to pay the debts from IMF and euro 😂 a lot were saying we won't allow a country ruled by imf.

[@nooboftheyear7170]

@@lanzortiz3199 it might be that they're going to cover that chinese money then. That's even better since the interest rate would be lower but yes, more cause for the sinorussian propagandists to try and cut them off it seems. They want them to default like sri lanka did

[@conquerorvictor5072]

We reject being made slaves of IMF and world Bank by Ruto through his excess taxes.

[@nooboftheyear7170]

Actually it isn't to do with the imf. It is to do with china. You guys have to pay china back at higher than imf rates or they're going to take some national resource like a gold or diamond deposit that their spies found in your country. That would have been a part of the chinese contract with your government so I suggest y'all knuckle down and get this debt paid back FAST!!! so that you kenyans can exploit the wealth that the chinese discovered to the benefit of your country. This has been the chinese strategy throught africa. I heard that for a few billion dollars they are looking at ownership / access to a gold mine with reserves of two trillion dollars. And apparently most of the money goes back to china for equipment and management teams as no local people are employed at any level above general labour.

[@alicewangui9656]

If kenya can have leaders that can seriously fight corruption and seriously look at our expenditure then we do not need IMF and worldbank loans. They keep increasing taxes to fund corruption, its not fair😢.

[@nooboftheyear7170]

Guys it wasn't imf and world bank loans. If you listened to the lady that was talking, she said that the chinese built infrastructure. The chinese provide there own loans for those projects, usually secured on one or more natural resource deposits of the host country depending on the number of state banks involved. Also note that chinese loan rates are higher than those of the imf but have no conditions. Please also note that chibese loans are usually followed by antigovernment propaganda on social media to prevent the government paying back the loans, thereby enabling them to get $100Bn+ resource deposits for like $2-10Bn actually less than that since chinese equipment was bought for the project and all management was chinese - thus sending most of the money back to china. The wise thing? Stop the riots, get the debt paid, examine the resources and make a plan to extract and sell them. Moral of the story? Don't get fooled by the offer of easy money. It is never cheap or easy in the medium to long term.

[@victoriakamanthe8519]

​@@nooboftheyear7170dear you have all twisted chines manage the projects until they pay themselves back those who exploit people are the western they make the borrowers their slaves

[@victoriakamanthe8519]

All projects done by Chinese in Kenya are still run and managed by Chinese eg SGR, EPRESS WAY. Chinese debts are way better

[@nooboftheyear7170]

@@victoriakamanthe8519 chinese debt is way better until you're in default and then that secured resource gets claimed 🤦‍♂️😎

[@gideonchrismaina1773]

It is NOT five people. Over fifty youths have been massacred by security officers...😢😢😢

[@ring-tone278]

Boycott all functions of Ruto. Switch off all his speeches. And protests in every Kenyan Embassy. He should step down immediately.

[@user-hw3zb4sc8q]

He shouldn't be reconogised as president, but like all corrupt goverments they will hang on even though the people dont want him, just like Putin.

[@betty71595]

👍

[@nooboftheyear7170]

The chinese have to be paid back or they're going to take your resources, resources and wealth your nation might not have even known you had. I heard tgat for a few billion dollars they're close to getting a two trillion dollar gold deposit in one country alone. Co-operate, get the money paid and let the country exploit their own resources.

[@bethsubira6393]

What do you mean 5! At night in githurai police killed 275 People through shooting.

[@RobinOyie]

😢😢😢rery sad

[@MultiKenyana]

I swear wtf 5 thats fake news… they are painting ruto to be nice, not good at all

[@sammburu2922]

Well, terming Kenyans as criminals was a big mistake. The situation will be worse in Thursday. Take that to the bank.

[@thatgirlfayth5914]

Dead bodies lay all over Githurai this morning because of this man who calls himself our president😢😢

[@betty71595]

😢

[@agnesmutindi3094]

😢

[@peterkariuki9475]

Correction the biggest part of the debt is from the IMF and the world bank and a large part of it is wasted .

[@oomz1975]

Respect to the Kenyan citizens protesting.

[@JohnMwaniki-by6ue]

Hundreds were shot dead... We are in kenya and thats how it is.... We still reject the bill

[@adetunde6652]

Ruto has done the unforgivable. This is UNDEMOCRATIC of Kenya government and politicians !

[@marymutua-tl6ks]

Ruto must Go😢😢

[@TuneinR]

I am just wondering if the taxe hikes excludes the police and the military. Situation like this i expected a military take over,not a collaboration with an ICC criminal.

[@user-jm7vc4fk5f]

Ironically, the bill exempted the police from tax, you know what that means

[@betty71595]

​@@user-jm7vc4fk5f Wah😳😳

[@johnadera3247]

Ruto must go he will go

[@VdjPantherMashups]

Over 180 innocent Civilians were massacred in Githurai yesternight....some shot while sheltering in their houses....Please do a report on that

[@VdjPantherMashups]

Death toll rises to 275.....oldest one was only 20 years of age💔💔

[@susangichohi8867]

Not 5 people this man has killed many people, shame on you Ruto ICC should come for you

[@user-sg7cf2nf9b]

Killing innocent Kenyans over finance bill !!!!! The biggest narcissist turns around and calls the murdered victims criminals? The ICC needs to investigate and charge him again. #powertothepeople

[@Candys9096]

IMF and US Puppet

[@bonfaceandala5850]

Corruption, corruption, corruption, corruption, corruption and lack of transparency in Ruto administration is the major problem.

[@clarakerubo5397]

Not 5 but more than 275 in another part of Naitobi called githurai, killings went on from 7 pm to 3am,,, RUTO MUST GO

[@VioletAnyanje]

Not people our kids!

[@moabdika5623]

Ruto must go from Somalia

[@mechanicpapawembatoyota2541]

Big criminal calls his people Criminals

[@ramatgan1]

Neo-colonialism in Africa US prints trillions of dollars, while US controlled IMF tells Kenya to raise tax The new finance bill imposes, for example, 16% sales tax on bread & 25% sales tax on cooking oil.

[@ShukriGufu-ec3gk]

15 killed wrong information

[@LadyAndanaZerva]

Ruto calls his Citizens that finances his lifestyle Criminals?? Wow

[@cleverlearnersleolearning2618]

God bless Kenya…this is what Ghanaians should learn about the Kenyans

[@JM-vj7we]

Excellent reporting. Thank you from Long Island NY.

[@hetty7891]

I like the fact that BBC is using the own Kenyan to inform us and not a foreign analyst. 😊

[@johnmbugua6499]

Kenya are demanding their rights

[@wandacadofarm.5759]

The "Ruto massacre" has sparked public outrage. The response, or silence, from women leaders in Parliament, the Senate, and religious institutions is critically important.

[@kartelsiconoclast643]

Don't lie to the world it is not the criminals but we are the angry and sabotaged people by his arrogance

[@auggievu2972]

Calling the people criminals... Unbelievable. Maybe he gonna call Putin for help too.

[@EzraTeter]

He prefers Genocide Joe.

[@jinglu565]

Putin doesnt cooperate with US todo genocide

[@winifredouma2173]

Ruto should do the most honorable thing, which is resigning his position as president of kenya, and not to force his ego on the throats of Kenyans.

[@idiamin4015]

Ruto must goo

[@BORDERSSAFARISTRAVEL]

Tomorrow State house we need tea Mchele ya parliament yesterday ilikuwa Haina chumvi TOMORROW THURSDAY # OCCUPY STATE HOUSE 🇰🇪🇰🇪🇰🇪

[@tonnykaunda265]

He has already massacred hundreds from Githurai area

[@MFHaZe]

Vote Reform 💯💯💯💯💯

[@nimaombi3077]

Its not 5 people killed. Its a massacre of close to 300 people in Githurai. And there was internet shut down. Please journalists, do your job.

[@sabbiestrp3385]

#rutomustgo #rutomustgo

[@meeowgforever]

Please talk abouth Githurai 45 now that over 200 people were massacred at night😢😢😢.

[@andrewillemse2031]

As I always say power to the people because the people shall govern not the government. They need to learn to listen to the people something all African leaders seems to not be doing, so then you must face the music.

[@mohammadshaown892]

USA just listed Kenya as major "NON-NATO" Ally & look violence erupt. Keep distance from NATO is the only solution to peace. Kenya People Stay Strong ❤ Global South With You.

[@frankjames7272]

we will see.

[@frankjames7272]

BTW . the same as south korea, philippines, taiwan and japan . major non- NATO allies for years .

[@atumraamun7800]

Ethiopians need to wake up ❤❤❤❤

[@EthioRich-lm4og]

Bullshit Ethiopia is on right track we don't want protest

[@user-sc8ek9qj5o]

He is a colonial sell out period.

[@Keneli-lr8gs]

"5 people" Are you simpathiser with police brutality, where do you get this inaccurate news??..

[@ruthwaithera4593]

Proud to be Kenyan 🇰🇪 🇰🇪 😊😊✊️✊️💪💪

[@skyliner467]

Thats how real democracy looks like

[@osmankenya47]

ruto must go he put taxes the work of this taxes we don't see

[@valentinesgiftshop799]

The only criminal we have in Kenya is RUTO

[@tushabemuhairwe]

Nanjala has done well!

[@gavinpage673]

She has done well in shifting the narrative and blaming China and Russia and excluding the real culprits IMF and World Bank. She too, like Ruto and his government are Western puppets.

[@JOSEPHWAWERU-qv3uw]

❤😢😢 sorry for victims whom lost and loss God know not in vain to demand your repertoire Right😢❤

[@ivangrand4947]

What you mean 5 people? Ruto must go

[@dannmwaura9633]

Over 200 people were gunned down in githurai yesterday at night. They paid a few criminals to disrupt the peaceful protests . We shall never forget this . We will sort this out in 2027. ... kenya is greater than the few mps and government officials... we are watching what human rights groups will do.

[@hannahnyambura991]

More people than that in our country were shot dead. We're very sad as Kenyans n angry as well.

[@dholloway171gmail]

So sorry for that dear. The Lord is your strength. Hope they've stopped protesting?

[@elizabethwambui4990]

No criminal in Kenya Ruto is main criminal..... #rejectfinancebill Ruto must go

[@user-rh8nw7xj6p]

In Ruto's universe, power belongs to him not the people.

[@israelyao4326]

What a shame , call your citizens criminals. 😢

[@ek888oo]

10 people were killed breaking in parliament not 5. and in another area called gethorai that neighbours a army barracks there were more than 40 killed by military

[@Don.Aw6752]

The biggest criminal lying about 6 people yet they are almost 50

[@cr7monkey]

❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@4362mont]

So much for the hypothesis that Kenyan cops are using "less lethal" crowd control.

[@kingbwaila9492]

How did @kenya vote for this short-fused man into president?

[@betty71595]

He did not win. He stole another's victory. His western masters colluded with the Electoral Commissioner in charge & gave this loser the victory 😢

[@Chan-fi9lx]

😢

[@JerryMartin-pz1bf]

Stand your ground the citizens of Kenya.

[@willentess6812]

Its not 5 its over 150

[@user-hd6qk6uw4j]

Ruto must go

[@dominicemoit5201]

He should resign

[@leemccabemccabe5627]

2024 worldwide 🙏

[@Nico_Dangelo]

It's not 5,its 157

[@JM-vj7we]

Interestingly that the woman speaking said that the debt was owed to China and that they weren’t as lenient as the West regarding repayment. It’s going to be interesting to see how in the future African states and their partnership with dictators (Russia and China) play out. I have no allegiance to either. Just curiosity.

[@gavinpage673]

You too are parroting the Western narrative, Shifting the blame to CN & RUS. When has the west (IMF & WB) forgiven debit? Their institution have saddled/overburdened the developing nations with huge debit, then force unworkable economic depraved solutions (Structural Adjustment Programme - ESAP) on governments.

[@user-ic9vg6pw4o]

What does it mean to address nation?

[@nzule]

Tens of people killed.

[@nduanyamicheal9252]

Things are failing apart.

[@youngsimba9988]

This is what happening in Haiti

[@rebeccadaniel4667]

What's going on ?

[@mikemitiku3916]

People of Ethiopia must learn this

[@Andrezma]

More than 150 people were massacred last night by police in gethurai😢

[@user-sz9hx9pr6t]

More than 13 people dead

[@abigailmpofu4210]

It's no longer about tax bill ...!!!

[@olguinegourdet9182]

HE COULDN'T EVEN MANAGE HIS OWN COUNTRY HE IS SENDING TROOPS IN HAÏTI 😂😂😂.

[@selam1353]

After 5 killed? Are you serious?!

[@geraldngirimo8773]

RUTO must Go!

[@christopherjoseph8330]

Free Kenya from USA and EU 😢

[@niroshasamarakone2469]

Parliament is securitised?😂

[@cegesl4521]

I thought kenya had a lot faith with kenya police to send 1000 to Haiti it appears the government doesn’t have faith with it’s police

[@virendrachaudhari4144]

Ruto comes down on knees.🙏🙏🙏🙏