Ruto said he would not sign the new law at a news conference in the capital, though he acknowledged he had taken that decision under strong public pressure.

Some sources point out that the violent protests of the previous day, left a toll of 23 dead and more than 300 injured, although this figure is not yet official.

Meanwhile, the country dawned on Wednesday in a tense calm, following the storming of the parliament building and vandalism in Nairobi and other cities.

Meanwhile, President Ruto today condemned the violence during the protests, lamented the loss of lives and injuries suffered and offered his condolences to the families who lost their loved ones.

Ruto urged restraint to restore order and provide space for dialogue, but said he would use all means at his disposal to restore calm to the country, which is why army troops were deployed in the capital.

The first outbreaks of violence earlier in the week forced the government to scrap two of the proposals, an increase in VAT on bread, and a tax on vehicle ownership, but the conciliatory gesture was insufficient and the protests continued with the death toll and hundreds injured and arrested.

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