Nairobi, Kenya | By Michael Wandati | On Thursday, Kenyan police deployed tear gas in central Nairobi as small groups of protesters gathered for what was intended to be a new day of demonstrations against President William Ruto dubbed “Nane Nane March.”
Riot officers patrolled Nairobi’s Central Business District, set up roadblocks on major routes, and many shops remained closed. Despite these measures, only a few dozen demonstrators participated, according to our reporter.
Kenya, known for its relative stability in the region, has experienced weeks of intense and occasionally violent protests against Ruto’s administration, predominantly led by younger Gen-Z Kenyans.
While Ruto was busy with the swearing-in of his new cabinet, police clashed with protesters a few kilometers away, deploying tear gas and making several arrests.
Despite the police action, the streets remained mostly quiet with only a few people going about their day-to-day activities.
In Mombasa, traffic continued as usual with no disruptions, and Kisumu, a western lakeside city, also reported calm conditions.
Acting Police Chief Gilbert Masengeli had cautioned on Wednesday about potential “criminals” trying to infiltrate the protests and advised people to avoid key areas such as the main international airport and Ruto’s official residence while exercising caution in crowded places.
What began as peaceful protests against proposed tax increases has evolved into broader dissent against Ruto’s administration, driven by accusations of excessive government spending and corruption.
Since the protests started in mid-June, at least 60 people have died, with reports of police using excessive force, including live ammunition, and numerous individuals have gone missing, according to human rights organizations.
New Chapter
Though recent protests have dwindled in size, new demonstrations were planned for Thursday, marked as “Nane Nane March” or Eight Eight in Swahili, referring to August 8.
Organizers have previously accused “goons” of derailing their peaceful protests and inciting violence.
In response to the most significant challenge of his presidency, Ruto has implemented several measures to quell public discontent. These include abandoning proposed tax increases, restructuring his cabinet, and making substantial budget cuts.
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Ruto described the installation of a new “broad-based” cabinet on Thursday—comprising four opposition figures alongside several previously dismissed ministers—as the beginning of a “new chapter” for Kenya’s governance and development.
Since taking office in September 2022 after a contentious election against veteran opposition leader Raila Odinga, Ruto has promised to support Kenya’s underprivileged.
However, he is now navigating between the demands of international creditors, who insist on fiscal reforms to manage the country’s $78-billion debt, and ordinary Kenyans grappling with a cost-of-living crisis.
Despite relatively strong economic growth, projected by the central bank at 5.4 percent this year, a third of Kenya’s 52 million population continues to live in poverty.
