After a day of protest, unrest and bloodshed, the Kenyan president William Ruto addressed the nation with a message of sadness and strength.
Saying that “legitimate” protests against his policies had been “hijacked by a group of organized criminals”, he warned that his government would use all available means to prevent a recurrence of the violence – “at any cost”.
“Today’s events mark a crucial point in how we respond to threats to our peace,” he said. “We will ensure that a situation of this nature does not repeat itself.”
The president’s message was an attempt to seize control after days of street protests that have grown in strength and number. They escalated on Tuesday, killing at least five people and wounding hundreds.
But in the longer term, some around Mr Ruto must fear that things may not be so simple and that the prospect of difficult choices remains.
Mr Ruto, elected in 2022, pledged to reduce corruption, support the country’s faltering economy and help the poor. Embattled Mr Ruto now faces an unprecedented rebellion against a bill he says is an essential part of his nation-building plan.
It might be easier to know which way to go if the opposition Ruto faces were confined to parliament.
Ruto is an astute political player and served as deputy president for almost a decade before being elected to the top position. Ruto has years of experience in fighting politics to get things done.
But now the forces uniting against him are something he truly has no control over.
A movement that grew organically from the discontent expressed on social media has grown into a powerful rebellion that has filled the streets of cities across the country.
In the capital, the Nairobi governor’s office, the city hall and the country’s parliament were set on fire this afternoon.
The demonstrators had started the day by threatening a “total shutdown”.
And at the end of a day of chaos and panic across the country, often to the sound of tear gas and sometimes live fire from police, there is no doubt that their anger has been heard.
In response, Ruto has chosen not to give in to the protesters’ demands by abandoning his budget – but has stood up to them in an attempt to calm the country.
Some in his administration may wonder whether that position can hold, and where it will leave his controversial funding bill in the longer term.
Mr Ruto has argued that the raft of new taxes is essential to keep Kenya’s debt under control – a whopping sum of more than $80 billion, costing the country more than half of its annual tax revenue to service its debts pay.
Kenya completed a restructuring of its international debt obligations earlier this year – something that immediately led to a rise in the value of its currency.
Mr Ruto is increasingly seen as one of Africa’s leading statesmen and recently returned from a state visit to the White House. He understands how important it is for his country’s economy to avoid defaulting on its debts.
For those in his government, the calculation was that controlling the state’s finances by increasing the tax burden was preferable to cutting public services.
The bill, which was set to take effect next Monday, originally brought dozens of new or increased taxes on everything from car ownership and financial transactions to sanitary pads.
Several of the most controversial taxes have already been abolished after consultation with the public.
But the budget controversy follows other revenue-raising measures introduced by Ruto, including higher taxes on healthcare and cheap housing.
And for those living on the streets, there is a third solution available to the government, besides cutting services or raising taxes.
Many blame the country’s financial woes on corruption, with taxpayers wary of paying more amid a lack of confidence in state transparency.
For Mr Ruto, it is perhaps the shadows of this past that make his current position so difficult.
He may be a new president, and with a focus on green energy and technology, he certainly has new ideas about where he wants to take Kenya.
But for many on the street, Ruto’s record as a senior figure in government during a period marred by corruption means it is difficult to trust him with their taxes.
Today’s events in Nairobi now appear to have Mr Ruto in a tight corner.
Faced with condemnation for what many Kenyans see as a heavy-handed response to street protests, he has chosen to take direct action against those he accuses of causing the demonstrations to spiral out of control.
But few of those who came to Nairobi and across the country to make their voices heard show any sign of giving up.
When Ruto addressed the nation in his inauguration speech last year, he spoke directly to the country’s politically active youth.
“My political journey,” he told them, “began the same way as a young campaign volunteer, fresh out of college.”
“Your experience and lessons learned should form the basis of your leadership journey.”
Now it faces a youth-led movement that many say poses the biggest challenge to Kenya’s rule since the country’s independence in 1963.
The coming days will be crucial for Ruto, with confrontation between his government and many of its people likely to continue.
