After a day of protests, riots and bloodshed, the Kenyan President Guilherme Ruto addressed the nation with a message of sadness and strength.
Claiming that “legitimate” protests against his policies were “hijacked by a group of organized criminals”, he warned that his government would use all means at its disposal to prevent a repeat of the violence – “at any cost”.
“Today’s events mark a critical 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 regain control after days of street protests that grew in strength and number. On Tuesday, they increased with at least five people shot dead and hundreds injured.
But in the longer term, some of those around Mr Ruto must fear that things may not be so simple and that the prospect of difficult choices remains.
Elected in 2022 on a commitment to reducing corruption, bolstering the country’s faltering economy and helping the poor, the combative Mr Ruto now faces an unprecedented rebellion against a bill he says is a key part of his plan to build the nation.
It might be easier to know which way to go if the opposition Ruto faces were confined to Parliament.
An astute political player, vice-president for almost a decade before being elected to the top spot, Ruto has years of experience in political contests to get things done.
Now, however, the forces massed against him are truly beyond his control.
A movement that grew organically from discontent expressed on social media, turned into a powerful rebellion that filled the streets of cities across the country.
In the capital, the Nairobi governor’s office, the city council and the country’s parliament were set on fire this afternoon.
Protesters began the day threatening a “total shutdown.”
And at the end of a day of chaos and panic across the country, often against the sound of tear gas and sometimes live police gunfire, there is no doubt that their fury was heard.
In response, Ruto chose not to give in to the protesters’ demands, abandoning his budget – but reacted against them in an effort to calm the country.
Some members of his government may wonder whether this position will be maintained and where his controversial financial law will leave him in the long term.
Ruto argued that the raft of new taxes is essential to controlling Kenya’s debt – a huge sum of more than $80 billion (£63 billion), which costs the country more than half of its annual tax revenue to repay. .
Kenya secured a restructuring of its international debt commitments earlier this year – something that immediately drove a rise in the value of its currency.
Increasingly seen as one of Africa’s leading statesmen, recently returned from a state visit to the White House, Mr Ruto understands the importance for his country’s economy of avoiding a debt payment default.
For members of his government, the calculation was that controlling state finances by increasing the tax burden was preferable to cutting public services.
The bill, which is expected to become law 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 eliminated after public consultation.
But the budget controversy follows other revenue-raising measures introduced by Ruto, including tax increases for healthcare and low-cost housing.
And for those on the streets, there is a third solution available to the government, in addition to cutting services or increasing taxes.
Many attribute corruption to the country’s financial problems, with taxpayers afraid to pay more due to a lack of trust in the State’s transparency.
For Mr Ruto, it is perhaps the shadows of this past that make his current position so difficult.
He could be a new president and, with his 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 marked by corruption means it is difficult to trust him with their taxes.
Today’s events in Nairobi leave Mr Ruto seemingly trapped in a difficult situation.
Facing condemnation for what many Kenyans see as a harsh response to street protests, he has chosen to directly confront those he blames for letting the demonstrations spiral out of control.
But few of those who came to make their voices heard in Nairobi and across the country show any sign of giving up.
When Mr Ruto addressed the nation in his inauguration speech last year, he spoke directly to the country’s politically active youth.
“My political journey,” he said, “started the same way as a young campaign volunteer, fresh out of university.”
“Your experience and lessons learned should form the foundation for your leadership journey.”
Now it’s a confrontation with a youth-led movement that poses what many consider to be the biggest challenge to authority in Kenya since the country’s independence in 1963.
The next few days for Mr Ruto will be crucial, with a confrontation likely between his government and many of his citizens.
