Kenyan police fired teargas at protesters in Nairobi on Thursday, a day after President William Ruto withdrew a controversial tax hike bill. Roads to the presidential palace were blocked, and security forces, including soldiers, patrolled the streets.
Despite the tax bill’s withdrawal, protesters in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, and other cities continued to demand Ruto’s resignation. The protests, though smaller than previous rallies, saw at least seven people hospitalized with gunshot wounds in Homa Bay.
In Nairobi, police dispersed several dozen demonstrators with teargas. Medics for Kenya reported that its volunteers were affected by the teargas.
Protests in Mombasa and Kisumu were largely peaceful, with protesters urging non-violence. Auma Obama, half-sister of former US President Barack Obama, highlighted the youth’s grievances and called for dialogue.
The International Monetary Fund expressed concern over the recent violence, while Ruto promised austerity measures and dialogue with Kenyan youth. Analysts predict delays in fiscal consolidation and future IMF funding disbursements due to the government’s shift from revenue-boosting to spending cuts.