Category: Politics

He made the remarks in Huye District, Southern Province, where he continued his campaign activities on Thursday, June 27, 2024.

The RPF flagbearer started by thanking the citizens, especially those who gathered in Huye District including residents from Gisagara, Nyanza, and Nyaruguru, reminding them of Rwanda’s collective achievements.

Kagame urged Rwandans to vote for him on July 15, 2024, to continue the journey of building the nation that began after its liberation in July 1994.

The people responded unanimously, saying, “It’s you!” and he responded, “I agree. What convinces me is that what you choose for me, you will also do. So my task is straightforward: to move forward together.”

He continued, “You already know, the progress will continue year after year. The election date is approaching quickly as if it knows that we are all eagerly awaiting it. It’s soon! Actually, with all of you gathered here in such large numbers, it feels like the election has already concluded. Therefore, that excitement compels us to act (to vote) so that we can expedite our work of building the nation. The youth here — when I look at your numbers and other places I have been — you give hope to everyone.”

The people sang, “Continue the path you started, if you falter, you’ve made the right choice, Lord be with you.” That’s how it is.”

Kagame assured those gathered in Huye District that if they vote for him, he will return to thank them.

The RPF chairman is running against Frank Habineza, the leader of the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda, and Mbayimana Philippe, who is vying for the presidency on an independent ticket. Six other independent candidates had their candidature rejected after failing to meet several requirements set by the National Electoral Commission (NEC).

The campaigns will close on July 13. Approximately 9.5 million people have registered to vote in this year’s parliamentary and presidential elections.

The Kenyan Head of State bowed to pressure to drop the Bill after angry protesters overwhelmed the police, invaded, and set ablaze a section of Parliament moments after lawmakers passed the contentious Bill on Tuesday.

The violent confrontation between the police and the young “Gen Z” protesters sadly resulted in the deaths of several people and left scores injured, prompting condemnation from the United Nations, the African Union, and several foreign diplomatic missions in Nairobi.

On Wednesday, just hours after he threatened to crack down on the “organizers and financiers” of the protests, Ruto made a surprise U-turn, conceding to the demands from the protesters and calls for dialogue from the international community.

In a televised speech from State House Nairobi, President Ruto said, “The people have spoken… I concede,” promising to engage the young people he had earlier described as “dangerous criminals” and plotters of “treasonous” activities.

“Having reflected on continuing the conversation around the Finance Bill, and listening to the Kenyan people who say they want nothing to do with this Bill, I concede.

“Therefore, I will not sign the Finance Bill 2024 and it shall be subsequently withdrawn and I have agreed with these members, that shall become our position,” President Ruto stated.

The withdrawal of the Bill, however, complicates matters for President Ruto, who has recently initiated various measures aimed at maintaining Kenya’s creditworthiness in international markets. This comes amid criticism over alleged insensitivity to the welfare of Kenyans grappling with the high cost of living exacerbated by new taxes introduced after Ruto took office.

Currently, the country’s debt burden stands at 68% of GDP, which exceeds the World Bank and International Monetary Fund’s recommended threshold of 55% of GDP. Kenya’s GDP stands at $113.4 billion.

Watch this video to learn more about the Finance Bill protests in Kenya and the impact of President Ruto’s concession.

The decision to deploy Burundian soldiers to the DRC was based on an agreement between the presidents of the two countries in August 2023, valued at five billion dollars.

These soldiers were sent to North Kivu province. In the Masisi territory, M23 killed many Burundian soldiers and captured others from November 2023 to May 2024.

After being overpowered by M23 starting in November 2023, when Burundian soldiers launched an attack on the militia’s positions in Kitshanga, some soldiers began refusing to return to the front lines, explaining that they did not understand what they were fighting for. Some also complained about being forced to wear DRC military uniforms and not being provided with adequate equipment.

The Burundi government decided to repatriate the soldiers who refused to fight from November 2023 to February 2024, using planes and Lake Kivu. In total, around 274 soldiers were detained in the provinces of Rumonge, Ngozi, Ruyigi, and Bururi.

In the trial that began in May 2024, these soldiers were charged with disobeying the orders of the Head of State, mutiny, and treason. None of them had legal representation.

The court acquitted two of them, sentenced others to 30 years, 25 years, and 20 years in prison. All 272 soldiers were fined in US dollars.

During the trial in Rutana province, the soldiers, including Colonels and Majors, told the court that their actions were based on orders from their superiors. They asked the government to acquit them and reinstate them in their positions.

After being sentenced, they claimed they were unjustly convicted and announced plans to appeal the court’s decision.

For the first time in Kenya’s 61 years of independence, angry protesters stormed Parliament in Nairobi yesterday, causing massive destruction after lawmakers defied calls to reject the Finance Bill 2024, which seeks to raise $2.7 billion in additional taxes for the government.

At least five people were shot dead by the police and more than 31 others were injured in the violent confrontation, according to Amnesty International.

Uhuru said he was deeply saddened by the loss of lives, calling on the current administration to listen to the people to avert more loss of life.

“I come to you with a heavy heart. Saddened by the loss of lives occasioned by the current situation prevailing in our country. It is the right of every Kenyan to protest as determined as determined by the constitution we all promulgated in 2010. It is also the duty of leaders to listen to those they lead,” the former Kenyan Head of State stated.

“Leaders must know that power and authority they have is donated to them by the people. I therefore call for calm and for the leadership to show restraint and do the right thing by listening to the people and not be antagonistic to them. Violence on either side is not the answer,” he added.

As a former president, Uhuru said he had felt the weight and the difficulty of leading Kenya and called for wisdom and civility to navigate the current crisis.

“Dear Kenyans, I stand with you and I ask our leadership to embrace dialogue and speak to the people and not at the people. I pray for peace and understanding on the part of each and every Kenyan and for all of us to remember that Kenya is bigger than one of us; there is nothing cast in stone that cannot be changed,” Uhuru added.

Odinga, on his part, urged the state to “stop murdering Kenya’s children.”

He said Ruto’s administration had refused to listen to the cries of Kenyans on high taxation and is instead pushing through additional taxes amid the high cost of living.

“Matters that should have been resolved through dialogue and humility have degenerated into developments that have never been witnessed in the 61-year history of our country since Independence,” Odinga stated.

“I am deeply troubled by the violent and deadly crackdown on young, peaceful protesters exercising their right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression.”

The former Kenyan Prime Minister called on Ruto’s government to suspend the Finance Bill and pave the way for dialogue with the young people, “Gen Z,” who comprised the majority of the protesters.

“Kenya cannot afford to kill its children just because the children are asking for food, jobs and a listening ear. This Bill is neither an emergency nor a life-and-death matter for the government and Kenyans,” he noted.

“Kenyans will recall that when there was a standoff in the last Parliament over calls for the reduction of tax on petroleum products from 16 per cent to 8 per cent, the then Jubilee government agreed to suspend that provision and fell back on the old Finance Act until a consensus was reached. The same can happen today, with the government suspending the current Finance Bill and continuing with the Finance Act of last year.”

He urged the East African Community, the African Union and the United Nations to immediately be seized of the unfolding situation in Kanya to save lives and the country.

“I mourn with the families that have lost loved ones and stand with them in the ongoing struggle for Justice and economic liberation,” he added.

President Ruto on Tuesday night termed the protests as treasonous and labelled the protesters as dangerous criminals. He vowed to crack down on the “organisers and financiers of the protests” to prevent a repeat of the same.

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The Finance Bill 2024 is the latest in a series of measures aimed at maintaining Kenya’s creditworthiness in international markets. Currently, the country’s debt burden stands at 68% of GDP, which exceeds the World Bank and International Monetary Fund’s recommended threshold of 55% of GDP.

Pressure from Kenyans last week saw the Head of State allow several amendments. These included the withdrawal of proposed 16% VAT on bread, a 2.5% motor vehicle tax increase, and a hike in the tax on mobile money transfers from 15% to 20%.

Additionally, the proposal to introduce a Ksh150 per kilogram eco-tax on plastic packaging materials, batteries, and hygiene products such as diapers and sanitary pads was dropped.

Other taxes that remain untouched include proposals to increase import taxes from 2.5% to 3% of the item’s value, payable by the importer at the port, as well as a 16% tax on goods and services intended for the direct and exclusive use in the construction and equipping of specialized hospitals with a minimum bed capacity of 50. Kenyans have expressed concerns that the latter could lead to higher costs for accessing critical health services such as cancer treatment, diabetes care, kidney dialysis, and other chronic illnesses.

Speaking during the RPF Inkotanyi campaign at Shyogwe sector in Muhanga District on June 24, 2024, President Kagame, who is seeking to defend his seat in the polls slated for July 15, reminded the citizens that there was a time when Rwandans who had fled abroad were denied the right to return home.

This happened during the regime of Juvénal Habyarimana, who told Rwandans living in Uganda that Rwanda was like a glass full of water, and adding more would cause it to overflow.

Habyarimana’s policy of preventing Rwandans from returning was one of the reasons why the RPA Inkotanyi forces in Uganda started the liberation struggle in October 1990, ultimately achieving victory in July 1994.

Since the RPF took power, many Rwandans who had fled have returned to join others in rebuilding a country that had been devastated in many ways. Those familiar with Rwanda’s history affirm that Rwanda continues to stun the world with its massive transformation over the past 30 years.

Kagame told the gathering in Muhanga District that although Rwanda is small on the map, it is not too small to accommodate all Rwandans, and therefore, no one should be a refugee because they are denied the right to live in Rwanda.

He said, “No one should be a refugee. Every Rwandan, whether today or in the future, regardless of our population size, will fit in Rwanda.”

The RPF Inkotanyi candidate explained that for Rwandans to be fully accommodated in Rwanda, they need to work together, embrace modernity, and do things efficiently.

He said, “For people to be accommodated in a country like Rwanda, which is considered small, yet still manages to accommodate many, it is possible, but it requires working together, embracing modernity, doing things efficiently, and ensuring Rwanda is prosperous.”

He emphasized that the unity of Rwandans is one of the core values of the RPF Inkotanyi, urging them to make the right choice in the upcoming elections on July 15 to continue the journey of building Rwanda together.

“We are committed to upholding what we have achieved so far,” the President declared. He reflected on a time when Africans were accustomed to poverty and dependence, believing that they would be sustained by external aid and divine intervention. “In our minds, there was God, there were others, and then there should be us,” he remarked, underscoring the mindset that should prevail.

He highlighted the transformative journey Rwanda embarked on 30 years ago, emphasizing the importance of self-reliance and proactive engagement. “What is important is playing our part,” he stressed, adding that this did not mean rejecting external harmony or assistance. Instead, it is about building on what they have , starting from within.

The President concluded his speech by appreciating the efforts of the people of Ngororero, expressing his love for them, and reiterating the importance of working for themselves and the country. His message was clear: self-reliance and unity are the cornerstones of continued progress and prosperity.

In his speech during the campaign event held in Rugerero sector in Rubavu District on June 23, 2024, President Kagame touched on Rwanda’s relations with neighbouring countries, including the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Residents of Rubavu, especially those in border sectors like Rugerero, asserted that their security is well-maintained, even though they often hear gunfire from nearby areas in the DRC.

Kagame highlighted that security is a cornerstone of Rwanda’s development because, without it, progress is impossible.

He said, “Nothing can be achieved without security. Security is essential, and it is provided by everyone; you as Rwandans are the primary contributors to security.”

The RPF flag bearer went on to explain that security agencies perform their duties based on the foundation laid by the citizens.

He said, “The other security agencies you see rely on you, they are built on you, the goodwill among you makes it possible to achieve complete security, enabling Rwandans to reach their goals.”

Kagame explained that Rwanda is secure because of everyone’s contribution.

The RPF Inkotanyi candidate told the citizens that as long as they continue to contribute to the country’s development as they have for the past 30 years, anyone wishing ill upon Rwanda will find no opportunity.

He said, “Those born in the last 30 years, some have become ministers, some travel by plane, others have studied and excelled, but we have achieved all this through our usual hard work, good mindset, dedication, and ambition. Where would anyone wishing ill upon Rwanda find a way in? Nowhere. And as we progress and build more, we also build the capacity to ensure that our achievements endure.”

Since 2023, President Félix Tshisekedi of the DRC and Evariste Ndayishimiye of Burundi have expressed intentions to attack Rwanda and oust Paul Kagame from power. These statements have severely deteriorated relations between Rwanda and these countries.

Kagame emphasized that Rwanda seeks to live peacefully with everyone but is ready to confront anyone who wishes to harm it. He said, “We want to live in harmony with our neighbours and others, especially African countries and others far beyond. For us, the primary goal is to coexist peacefully, but when you build with the intention of peaceful coexistence, you must also be prepared. If someone does not wish to coexist peacefully and seeks to harm you, are you ready? That is the question we continually seek to answer in our own way.”

The RPF Inkotanyi candidate stated that Rwandans prioritize doing what concerns them and achieving their ambitions; if it involves cooperation or peaceful coexistence with other countries, they will do so, but if “other things” arise, they are prepared for those too.