Multiple gunshots, teargas, and a heavy police presence have been reported across the country as thousands of Kenyans protest the rising living costs despite the recently withdrawn 2024 Finance Bill. This marks the second week of protests in Kenya, with young Kenyans vowing to continue demonstrating every Tuesday and Thursday. They are also calling for President William Rutos resignation or an overhaul of his entire government.
Anti-riot police efforts have cleared Nairobis central business district, leaving it with few demonstrators; however, hundreds of protesters remain scattered in the suburbs. Movement into Nairobi is difficult as some access roads, including Waiyaki Way connecting Nairobi to western Kenya, have been closed. Public transport vehicles, which most Nairobians use to and from work, have also been removed from the streets. Those using personal vehicles have also reported thorough inspections from the police manning volatile areas within the city.
There have also been reports of isolated looting incidents.
With matching t-shirts and wielding placards with #RutoMustGo slogans, protesters say high levels of corruption, poor governance, and police brutality are forcing them to take action. Thousands have protested in Mombasa, Nakuru, Kisumu, and smaller towns that havent traditionally seen protests, including Lamu and Karatina.
Last weeks demonstrations turned deadly, with over 20 people shot dead across the country , the majority in Nairobi and its surroundings. While some injured protesters recover in hospitals, concerns are mounting over reports of abductions by plainclothes police. The government appears intent on identifying leaders behind the Gen Z protests, yet these demonstrations lack any apparent political backing, with opposition leaders remaining largely silent.
