“I Won’t Sign The 2024 Finance Bill” Says President Ruto

By Dorothy Musyoka

President William Ruto has yielded to increasing pressure and declared his decision not to sign the Finance Bill 2024.

Speaking during a press briefing at the State House President Ruto,who was accompanied by United Democractic Alliance party members of parliament, said that after listening to Kenyans who overwhelmingly rejected the Bill, he would not sign it into law.

” Consequently,having reflected on the continuing conversation around the content of the finance bill 2024,and listening keenly to the people of kenya, who have said loudly that they want nothing to do with this finance bill 2024,I concede and therefore will not sign the 2024 finace bill and it shall subsequently be withdrawn and i have agreed with this members that becomes our collective position,” President Ruto said.

President Ruto also pointed the need for the nation to have a conversation on way to move forward after the decision made over the finance bill 2024.

The head of state also stated that he would engage Kenyan youth to hear their perspectives and concerns.

” I will be proposing for an engagement with young people of our nation to listen to their views,proposals, ideas and agree with them what they think we should do better as we go forward ,” added President Ruto.

At the same time the president welcomed multi-sectoral,bipartisan and multi stakeholder engagement for prosperity of the country.

“I also recommending, a multi-sectoral, bpartisan multistakeholder engagement from civil society,religious organisations, professional bodies for us as a nation to speak to the future againg together.And this will be on matters that are contained in the bill and matters that the people of kenya has conversed in the conversation that has been goin on,” reiterated the President.

President Ruto also called for immediate austerity measures to reduce spending.

“I am directing for immediate further austerity measures to reduce expenditure, starting with the Office of the President ,the entire presidency and extending to the entire executive arm of government,” said President Ruto.

“I direct that operational expenditure in the Presidency be reduced to remove allocations for the confidential vote, reduce travel budget, hospitality, purchase of motor vehicles, renovations and other expenditures,” added the president.

According to the presdient the reduction of budget allocations to the parliament,the judiciary and county government aims at ensuring that the country lives within their means as well adhering to the voice of the citizens.