Ruto set to address the nation for fourth time in 3 weeks

President William Ruto is set to address the nation at 2 pm on Thursday.

This marks his fourth national address since the anti-government protests started three weeks ago.

In an invite seen by The Eastleigh Voice, the briefing will be held at State House, Nairobi.

On Tuesday, June 25, 2024, Ruto in one of his shortest statements of address ever witnessed since he took over the presidency, sent a strong warning to the alleged planners of the chaos witnessed during the anti-Finance Bill protest that was witnessed that day.

The President said it was his mandate to safeguard Kenya's constitutional order.

"Today's events mark a critical point in how we respond to threats to national security," he said.

"We will ensure a situation of this nature does not recur again."

"I hereby put on notice the planners, financiers, orchestrators and abettors of violence and anarchy, that these security infrastructures established to protect our republic and its sovereignty, will be deployed to secure the country and restore normalcy."

The protests on that day saw Parliament being invaded, properties and infrastructure being damaged and lives lost in the hands of police officers.

Finance Bill withdrawn

On June 26, 2024, the Head of State addressed major concerns raised about the Finance Bill, 2024 when he announced that he had declined to assent to the Bill.

Last Friday, July 5, 2024, once again, Ruto addressed the nation whereby he announced government reforms aimed at streamlining his administration following an uproar from Kenyans, who demanded change in the overall governance of the country.

He appointed an independent task force to carry out a comprehensive forensic audit of public debt and issue a report in the next three months.

Some of the measures included the number of advisors in government being reduced by half, State officers barred from engaging in harambees, non-essential travel by state officers being suspended and removal of the budget of the Office of the First Lady and spouse of the Deputy President.

On Monday, the High Court temporarily suspended the establishment of the Presidential taskforce on the forensic audit of public debt pending the determination of a case filed by a Nakuru-based doctor.

Justice Lawrence Mugambi issued the order after Dr Magare Gikenyi and Eliud Matindi argued that the work of auditing public debt is a constitutionally mandated function of the Auditor General and not any task force appointed by the Executive or any other person.