Kenyan president orders review of MPs' pay rise after outcry

Kenya's President William Ruto has ordered a review of a proposed salary increase for cabinet members and parliamentarians following public backlash.

This comes after mass protests forced the abandonment of a controversial finance bill with tax hikes. The Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) had recommended a 2%-5% pay increase for state officials, including judges, starting this month.

However, the public questioned the raises amid a financial crisis, prompting President Ruto to emphasize living within means and reducing government spending.

Protests against tax hikes have escalated into demands for Ruto's resignation and accountability for protester deaths, with 39 people killed recently.