On Tuesday, Kenyan police used tear gas to disperse hundreds of protesters aiming to maintain pressure on President William Ruto after he made a series of concessions.
Protests, initially sparked by proposed tax hikes, have continued despite Ruto withdrawing $2.7 billion in tax increases and firing nearly his entire cabinet. Activists called for a “total shutdown” of the country, demanding Ruto’s resignation over accusations of misgovernance, corruption, and the deaths of dozens of protesters.
In Kitengela, on the outskirts of Nairobi, around 200 protesters burned tires and chanted “Ruto must go” and “Stop killing us,” prompting police to fire tear gas. Similar scenes occurred in Nairobi’s city center and the coastal city of Mombasa.
Although Ruto’s office announced talks to address protesters’ grievances, leading activists have rejected the invitation, demanding immediate action on corruption.
Kenya faces financial strain, with over 30% of its revenues going towards debt interest payments, leaving Ruto caught between lenders’ demands and a population struggling with rising living costs.
The protests, which began peacefully, have turned violent, resulting in over 40 deaths. Ruto accused the Ford Foundation of sponsoring the unrest, a claim the organization denied.