In a dramatic escalation of unrest across Kenya, riot police clashed with stone-throwing demonstrators in Nairobi and beyond on Tuesday, marking the most widespread protests since a deadly clash a week prior claimed the lives of at least two dozen protesters.
The nationwide demonstrations underscored a growing dissatisfaction with President William Ruto, who has struggled to quell the spontaneous youth movement despite abandoning controversial tax hike plans that initially sparked the unrest.
The day began with spirited protests but soon turned violent as police in Nairobi’s business district, clad in protective gear, forcibly dispersed protesters using tear gas and charged into crowds wielding clubs. Scenes of chaos unfolded as a street kiosk was set ablaze, medics attended to injured youths, and police detained several protesters.
Similar scenes played out in Mombasa, where hundreds marched chanting “Ruto must go!” and incidents of violence escalated, with local media reporting two people shot and cars set alight.
President Ruto, facing perhaps the gravest crisis of his presidency, remains caught between international financial pressures to reduce deficits and a populace grappling with soaring living costs. Despite appeals for dialogue and the abandonment of tax proposals, protest leaders, decentralized and mobilized through social media, have rejected overtures from the government.
“We are not money. We are people. We are human beings,” protester Milan Waudo emphasized, reflecting widespread frustrations over Ruto’s handling of the crisis.
Protests were reported in several other cities including Kisumu, Nakuru, and Kajiado, with incidents of tire burning and clashes with police documented in some areas.
The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights reported a death toll of 39 since June 18, primarily on June 25 when police opened fire near parliament during attempts by protesters to disrupt legislative proceedings.
As tensions mount, activists and opposition figures like Raila Odinga have rallied behind the demonstrators, framing the protests as a pivotal moment in Kenya’s struggle against corruption and misgovernance.
In response, President Ruto has directed fiscal adjustments to address budget shortfalls caused by shelving the tax plans, but critics argue his administration has yet to address demands for meaningful anti-corruption measures.
Despite assurances of security and appeals for calm from government officials, including State House communications director Gerald Bitok, who called for patriotism and condemned violence, the situation remains volatile.
With the protests evolving beyond fiscal grievances into broader demands for accountability and governance reform, Kenya faces a critical juncture that could shape its political landscape for years to come.