Kenya rocked by fresh protests despite president’s U-turn over tax bill

(CNN) — Police in Kenya fired tear gas on protesters as a fresh wave of demonstrations swept the country, despite President William Ruto’s U-turn on controversial tax plans.Fresh protests dubbed “One Million People March” began Thursday, with demonstrators calling for roads leading to the capital Nairobi to be blocked. Others threatened to occupy the State House, the president’s office, and the official residence.In a surprise move on Wednesday, Ruto said he would not sign the finance bill, saying he had been “listening keenly” to the Kenyan people. He had been facing escalating protests over the bill, with a civil society organization saying at least 23 people had died in clashes.But so far his move has failed to quell the demonstrations. Security forces have set up roadblocks around routes leading to the State House while other parts of the capital city have been fortified with heavy police presence.“It’s more than about the finance bill now,” Maria, a Kenyan protestor from Nairobi told CNN.“(They’re) killing us as young people for what? We come in peace,” she added.Despite being billed as a ‘million people march,’ turnout was noticeably lower in Nairobi’s central business district, a CNN team observed. The heavy security presence within...