Kenya President William Ruto has been given a 48-hour ultimatum by the public to step down, as citizens demand a new government committed to “transparency, accountability, and good governance.”

The call for resignation has gained significant traction on social media, with a viral Twitter statement asserting, “We no longer recognise William Ruto as the President of Kenya. We recall his presidency and urge him to immediately resign and surrender his office to the Kenyan people.”

This statement has garnered thousands of engagements, reflecting widespread discontent.

Despite President Ruto retracting a controversial finance bill that proposed tax increases, public outrage continues to simmer.

The bill, which was intended to address Kenya’s debt of approximately 10 trillion shillings ($78 billion), or roughly 70% of GDP, faced fierce opposition.

Ruto highlighted that without the tax increases, there would be a significant funding shortfall for critical development programmes, including those supporting farmers and teachers.

However, the economic challenges under Ruto’s administration have been profound. Kenyans have struggled with economic instability, rampant corruption, and governance issues, leading to escalating living costs and high unemployment rates.

The public’s frustration has culminated in protests and a fervent demand for change.

Dozens of protesters took to the streets, expressing their dissatisfaction with the administration, which they describe as plagued by “incompetence, mismanagement, and a persistent failure to address the nation’s pressing needs.”

The demonstrations in Nairobi were met with a heavy police response.

According to AFP journalists, Kenyan police fired rubber bullets and tear gas at demonstrators, while soldiers were deployed and roads leading to Ruto’s office at State House and parliament were blocked by police in anti-riot gear.