'I am proud of our youth, we'll have a conversation' - President Ruto on Finance Bill demos

Speaking during a church service in Nyahururu, President Ruto welcomed the demonstrations by the youth over the contentious Finance Bill 2024, terming them a noble initiative to address pressing national matters.

The President further noted that his government has the interests of young people at heart and he is willing to iron out the outstanding issues amicably.

"I congratulate you for stepping forward and showing your concerns over national matters they have done a democratic duty to stand and be recognised. We are going to have a conversation with you so that we can identify your issues and we can work together as a nation," said Ruto.

"I am very proud of our young people, they have stepped forward tribeless, peacefully and we are going to engage them so that together we can build a greater nation."

Anglican Archbishop Jackson Ole Sapit had urged Ruto to command police officers to refrain from using force during the anti-Finance Bill demonstrations since they have been peaceably marching along the streets.

"This is a discerning moment. Let us embrace the spirit of listening more than talking. Even in what is going on, those are children from our families let us not use any excessive force but we also urge them not to be lawless and destroy, maim or kill," said Sapit.

As of Saturday evening, two people had been confirmed dead after suffering injuries from last week's protests.

Evans Kiratu, 21, was transferred to Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) by a Good Samaritan while in critical condition after suffering internal bleeding. 

Kiratu’s family positively identified his body at the KNH morgue and confirmed that a teargas canister hit their kin’s private parts. 

Rex Masai was allegedly shot by a plain-clothed officer in Nairobi's CBD area on Thursday night. 

A seven-day protest is set to start from Monday, June 24 to mount more pressure on the government to shoot down the Bill in totality.