Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura now says the country has lost approximately Sh6 billion since the start of the anti-government protests.
Speaking on Thursday, July 18 in Nairobi, Mwaura said the economy will have a negative impact if the protests continue.
The Government Spokesperson noted that the country has a huge tax hole resulting from the rejection of the controversial Finance Bill 2024 as well as pending bills from the 2023/2024 financial year.
“Overall, the country has lost approximately Sh6 billion according to KRA as a result of the demonstrations, and fears are bound that if the protests continue the economy will have a negative impact in this financial year, and you know we have a huge tax hole as a result of the rejection of the Finance Bill of Sh346 billion and the carryover of pending bills from the last year of about Sh 220 billion,” said Mwaura.
He appealed to the youth to call off the anti-government protests saying that President William Ruto has agreed to their demands.
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Mwaura also mentioned that goons have infiltrated the Gen Z protests and are aiming to destabilize the country’s peace.
“As a government, we therefore make a passionate appeal to our children and our youth to reconsider their plans to hold demonstrations since what they were clamoring for has been acceded to and these demonstrations have been infiltrated by goons whose aim is to destabilize the country’s peace and prosperity,” Mwaura added.
The nationwide protests began on June 18 with Kenyans coming out in numbers to protest against tax hikes.
Despite the rejection of the Finance Bill, the protests have continued with Kenyans demanding better governance.
According to the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, 50 Kenyans have been killed and 413 injured since the start of the protests.
