On Tuesday (June 25), thousands of protesters in Kenya invaded the parliament building, setting fire to parts of it, The Associated Press. Now, global social media users are calling for more conversations about what is happening in the African country.
But the question remains: WHAT exactly caused these protests and the escalation on Tuesday? Here’s a summary of what’s happening, the impact so far, and the ultimate goal of the protests.
![Here's What's Happening in Kenya and Why It's Trending on Social Media Right Now (PHOTOS) 1 Here's What's Happening in Kenya and Why It's Trending on Social Media Right Now (PHOTOS)](https://thegurumedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Kenya-Protests-Photos-5-scaled.jpg)
![Here's What's Happening in Kenya and Why It's Trending on Social Media Right Now (PHOTOS) 2 Here's What's Happening in Kenya and Why It's Trending on Social Media Right Now (PHOTOS)](https://thegurumedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Kenya-Protests-Photos-5-scaled.jpg)
Support for Kenyan president takes a turn
According to the AP, President Guilherme Ruto He came to power by appealing to ordinary people, describing himself as a “drug lord” and promising relief from economic hardship. Country officials swore to him in his role in September 2022. Less than two years later, support for him has taken a drastic turn.
President Ruto has delivered on his promise to implement policies to put more money in the pockets of Kenyans. When your When the government removed crucial fuel and maize meal subsidies, many Kenyans considered it a betrayal.
Ruto, now fabulously rich, often urges Kenyans to tighten their belts. But his state visit to the United States in May, he created controversy when he chartered a luxury private jet instead of using the presidential jet or Kenya’s national airline. Ruto later said friends paid for the chartered jet, but he did not name them.
Financial law at the center of the chaos
As mentioned, on Tuesday, part of parliament was set on fire when protesters entered and lawmakers fled. The AP reports that bodies lay in the streets as police opened fire, according to witness accounts from medical professionals and guard dogs. Military forces are also on the ground.
![Here's What's Happening in Kenya and Why It's Trending on Social Media Right Now (PHOTOS) 3 Here's What's Happening in Kenya and Why It's Trending on Social Media Right Now (PHOTOS)](https://thegurumedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Kenya-Protests-Photos-2-scaled.jpg)
![Here's What's Happening in Kenya and Why It's Trending on Social Media Right Now (PHOTOS) 4 Here's What's Happening in Kenya and Why It's Trending on Social Media Right Now (PHOTOS)](https://thegurumedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Kenya-Protests-Photos-2-scaled.jpg)
![Here's What's Happening in Kenya and Why It's Trending on Social Media Right Now (PHOTOS) 5 Kenya Protests Photos 3 scaled](https://thegurumedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Kenya-Protests-Photos-3-scaled.jpg)
![Here's What's Happening in Kenya and Why It's Trending on Social Media Right Now (PHOTOS) 6 Kenya Protests Photos 3 scaled](https://thegurumedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Kenya-Protests-Photos-3-scaled.jpg)
![Here's What's Happening in Kenya and Why It's Trending on Social Media Right Now (PHOTOS) 7 Kenya Protests Photos 4 scaled](https://thegurumedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Kenya-Protests-Photos-4-scaled.jpg)
![Here's What's Happening in Kenya and Why It's Trending on Social Media Right Now (PHOTOS) 8 Kenya Protests Photos 4 scaled](https://thegurumedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Kenya-Protests-Photos-4-scaled.jpg)
The country’s youth, in particular, strongly opposed a financial bill made public for the first time on June 18. They warned that this would worsen Kenya’s economic problems, including the already high cost of living.
For lawmakers, however, the financial bill is expected to increase or introduce taxes or fees on a range of everyday goods and services. This list includes internet data, fuel, bank transfers and diapers. Some of the bill’s measures have already been withdrawn as anger grew.
Lawmakers nonetheless pushed ahead with approval during a runoff vote amid opposition. The bill is now awaiting the signature of President Ruto, who is expected to sign it this week, according to AP. He has two weeks to act, but obviously faces calls from protesters, clergy and other leaders to think again.
For context, the proposals are part of the Kenyan government’s efforts to raise an additional $2.7 billion in domestic revenue. The government says the changes are necessary to pay interest on the national debt, reduce the budget deficit and keep the government running.
How the protests began and escalated to the burning of Parliament
It should be noted that this is not President Ruto’s first finance bill to face opposition. A 2023 finance bill that Ruto signed into law was also unpopular, although anger did not escalate like that. That bill included a housing payroll tax.
Since June 18, young Kenyans have been organizing on social media and taking to the streets. Their actions included peaceful street demonstrations aimed at forcing authorities to abandon this financial law completely.
The protests began in Nairobi but spread to other parts of Kenya, including the Indian Ocean city of Mombasa and as far as Eldoret.
![Here's What's Happening in Kenya and Why It's Trending on Social Media Right Now (PHOTOS) 5 Kenya Protests Photos 3 scaled](https://thegurumedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Kenya-Protests-Photos-3-scaled.jpg)
![Here's What's Happening in Kenya and Why It's Trending on Social Media Right Now (PHOTOS) 6 Kenya Protests Photos 3 scaled](https://thegurumedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Kenya-Protests-Photos-3-scaled.jpg)
![Here's What's Happening in Kenya and Why It's Trending on Social Media Right Now (PHOTOS) 11 Here's What's Happening in Kenya and Why It's Trending on Social Media Right Now (PHOTOS)](https://thegurumedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Kenya-Protests-Photos-1-scaled.jpg)
![Here's What's Happening in Kenya and Why It's Trending on Social Media Right Now (PHOTOS) 12 Here's What's Happening in Kenya and Why It's Trending on Social Media Right Now (PHOTOS)](https://thegurumedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Kenya-Protests-Photos-1-scaled.jpg)
![Here's What's Happening in Kenya and Why It's Trending on Social Media Right Now (PHOTOS) 13 Kenya Protests Photos scaled](https://thegurumedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Kenya-Protests-Photos-scaled.jpg)
![Here's What's Happening in Kenya and Why It's Trending on Social Media Right Now (PHOTOS) 14 Kenya Protests Photos scaled](https://thegurumedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Kenya-Protests-Photos-scaled.jpg)
![Here's What's Happening in Kenya and Why It's Trending on Social Media Right Now (PHOTOS) 15 Here's What's Happening in Kenya and Why It's Trending on Social Media Right Now (PHOTOS)](https://thegurumedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Kenya-Protests-Photos-2-scaled.jpg?w=768)
![Here's What's Happening in Kenya and Why It's Trending on Social Media Right Now (PHOTOS) 16 Here's What's Happening in Kenya and Why It's Trending on Social Media Right Now (PHOTOS)](https://thegurumedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Kenya-Protests-Photos-2-scaled.jpg?w=768)
According to TMZ, former US President Barack Obama’s half-sister Auma Obama was caught in the climb. While CNN interviewed herAuma was bombarded with tear gas on the streets of the capital.
![Here's What's Happening in Kenya and Why It's Trending on Social Media Right Now (PHOTOS) 17 Auma Obama scaled](https://thegurumedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Auma-Obama-scaled.jpg)
![Here's What's Happening in Kenya and Why It's Trending on Social Media Right Now (PHOTOS) 18 Auma Obama scaled](https://thegurumedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Auma-Obama-scaled.jpg)
The president of Kenya responds
Responding to the incident in parliament, President Ruto called it was a threat to national security and he reportedly swore that such unrest would not happen again “at any cost”.
“Today’s events mark a critical turning point in how we respond to threats to our national security,” Ruto said, calling the developments “treacherous”.
Ruto was outside Nairobi attending an African Union retreat.
Kenya’s defense minister said he sent military personnel to support police during the “security emergency” and “breach of critical infrastructure.”
At least five people were shot dead while treating the injured, according to the Kenya Medical Association. More than 30 people were injured, at least 13 with live bullets.
Additionally, police fired live ammunition and threw tear gas at protesters seeking treatment in a medical tent at a nearby church. Elsewhere in the city, Kenyatta National Hospital said it had received 45 “casualties”.
RELATED: Kenyan police discover 73 bodies of alleged Christian cult followers who starved themselves to “go to heaven”
Associated Press staff Rodney Muhumuza and Evelyne Musambi contributed to this report.
What do you think, roommates?