- After a number of opposition protests against price hikes and tax increases, the government and opposition in Kenya have decided to establish a joint committee to try and work out their differences.
- Both the governing coalition led by President William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza and the opposition coalition Azimio la Umoja (Declaration of Unity) released statements on Saturday confirming the negotiations.
- Earlier this month, opposition leader Raila Odinga called for a series of protests, which resulted in significant unrest and occasionally violent run-ins with the police in which more than two dozen people lost their lives and numerous others were hurt.
- The majority and minority leaders of the national assembly, as well as four members from outside the legislature, would make up the committee, according to a joint statement from the two parties..
- All parties concurred that disagreement over a contentious financial package that was signed into law in June “should be decided in court,” where it is being contested. A measure that would quadruple the value-added tax on fuel and enact a new housing levy was lifted by an appeals court on Friday.
