New anti-government demonstrations took place in Kenya. In particular, incidents and clashes occurred during the demonstrations, not only in Nairobi but also in other cities. In Mombasa, the country’s second largest city, cars were set on fire and at least one shop was looted, according to images broadcast on Kenyan television.
Kenya has been rocked for two weeks by a protest wavewhich triggered the 2024-2025 budget proposal, which included new taxes, cementing broader discontent against William Ruto, the president elected in 2022.
“Bloodbath” in protests last month
The mobilizations of the movement, which has no real leader or organization, were marked on June 25 by a bloodbath, when the police opened fire with live bullets against the crowd that invaded the parliament.
At least 39 people were killed since the first demonstration on June 18, including at least 22 on June 25, according to the official authority for the protection of human rights (KNHCR). For its part, Human Rights Watch (Human Rights Watch) spoke of 31 deaths on June 25. The authorities gave a death toll of 19, without specifying a date.
Protests continue despite budget bill withdrawal
Despite the country’s president’s announcement that he would withdraw the budget plan, calls for mobilization continued, but the response was mixed, especially from “Generation Z” (young people born after 1997), who were at the center of the movement.
As on Thursday, the peaceful crowds of the first protests gave way today, during the rally in Nairobi’s commercial district, to groups of young people who threw stones at the authorities, who responded with tear gas.
In the district, many shops remained closed, but this did not stop the looting.
Police made arrests, AFP journalists reported.
“Bad elements have infiltrated,” Hanifa Adan, one of the faces of the protest movement, said in a message to X.
![Kenya: New anti-government protests – Clashes in Nairobi 1 diadilosi keny](https://thegurumedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/diadilosi_keny.jpg)
In a symbolic action, the protesters they placed coffins on the main avenue of the commercial districtwhich were soon removed by the police.
Protesters also blocked other roadswith police using tear gas and pressurized water to disperse the crowd.
The demonstrations denounce the president’s fiscal policy, as well as the bloody repression of the movement.
“We want justice for the innocent Kenyans who were killed by police during peaceful protests,” said Marilyn Wangui, a 24-year-old protester in Nakuru, who held a placard that read “Ruto must go.”
Sources: AMPE, AFP