Kenyan president bows to pressure, makes major concessions

FILE - Kenyan President William Ruto addresses the media during a press conference in Nairobi on June 26, 2024. Ruto on July 5, 2024, announced a series of budget cuts and reforms to replace a tax-increase measure that set off weeks of violent protests.

Kenyan President William Ruto on Friday ordered significant cuts in the federal budget along with other government reforms to pay off a crushing debt burden in a move seen as a concession to popular disapproval of a tax bill that sparked violent protests.