Kenyan President William Ruto has kicked off a historic online public forum with anti-tax protesters on social media platform X Spaces, saying he is there to listen.
His daughter Charlene Ruto, 31, called him “the first president in the world to hold an online meeting with the entire Generation Z”.
This is a reference to the young people behind the recent protests that rocked his father’s presidency.
Demonstrations against his finance bill were organized through X Spaces, a feature that allows users to host live audio conversations with others on the platform formerly known as Twitter.
A section of Kenyans in X promised to boycott the president’s talk and planned a parallel Space to counter the talk.
They did not want him to host the debate, and thus have control over who can speak, and they also argued that Mr Ruto already knows their demands.
The president’s session began about 45 minutes late, apparently plagued by technical difficulties.
Outrage over the proposed tax increases forced President Ruto to say he would withdraw the legislation, which was intended to help reduce Kenya’s debt burden of more than $80 billion (£63 billion).
A state-funded human rights commission estimates that more than 40 people died during the protests, the majority on the day the bill was approved by deputies last week. The Interior Ministry says 25 protesters were killed.
The demonstrations have since turned into calls for Ruto to resign and demands that security forces face justice for the murder of protesters.
Before his X Space session, President Ruto gave a national televised address, promising a series of spending cuts, saying they were necessary because he had been forced to cancel planned tax increases. These include:
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The dissolution of 47 state-owned companies with overlapping functions
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Suspend the purchase of new vehicles for state employees for six months
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Suspending all non-essential travel for state employees
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Reduction of government advisors by 50%
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Eliminate the budget of the first lady and the spouses of the vice president and the first cabinet secretary
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Guarantee the retirement of public servants at age 60.
President Ruto began his speech by expressing his condolences, but said that this “difficult time” is an opportunity for the country:
“We are finally having the right conversation, not about our tribes, or personalities, or political backgrounds, but about issues that affect each of us: issues like taxation, debt, the budget, corruption, the cost of life, unemployment and opportunities for our young people.”
His X Space, dubbed #EngageThePresident, was supposed to last between 11:00 GMT and 14:00 GMT (2pm to 5pm local time).
His daughter Charlene tweeted to publicize the three-hour opportunity to speak directly with the president.
“Young people, the opportunity of a lifetime awaits you”, she posted.
“I encourage you to use it wisely and engage constructively, because it is you who will determine whether such levels of discussion continue for your success.”
Some members of Ruto’s cabinet are also present at the X Space conversation, which has yet to begin in earnest.
More BBC stories about Kenya’s fiscal crisis:
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