NAIROBI, Aug. 9 — Anti-government protests returned to the streets in Kenya on Thursday, leading to injuries and the arrest of more than 170 individuals.
The demonstrations, though smaller in scale compared to previous ones, were marked by youthful protesters who marched through streets in six of Kenya’s 47 counties, chanting anti-government slogans and displaying placards with various messages.
In the Kenyan capital of Nairobi, normal business was disrupted in the central business district (CBD) as shops remained closed, and office workers avoided the area. Public transport was largely halted as minibus operators, known as matatus, withdrew their vehicles for safety reasons. Security officers engaged in running battles with protesters, using teargas and rubber bullets to disperse them. There were also reports of live ammunition being used by police.
“We are fighting for a better Kenya. All we want is for our issues to be addressed, including increased unemployment among youth,” said a protester.
Acting Inspector General of Police Gilbert Masengeli cautioned protesters against unlawful activities. “Every Kenyan, as per the law, has the liberty to demonstrate, picket, and assemble. But where the privilege of one ends is where that of another starts,” he said.
Masengeli assured the public that the government is addressing grievances from previous protests and warned that criminal elements would be dealt with firmly.
To prevent protesters from reaching the CBD, police set up roadblocks on major routes and inspected passenger vehicles, causing delays for commuters, as described by Henry Mulei, a resident stuck in traffic for hours due to a roadblock.
“I was heading to town from Ruiru in a public service vehicle, but we found a roadblock along the Thika Superhighway. I sat in traffic for hours and had to return home,” Mulei said.
Protests also occurred in towns such as Karatina in central Kenya and Machakos in the southern part of the country. Other major hotspots like Kisumu and Kisii, where violent scenes had been reported in the past, remained calm.
Some residents chose not to participate in the protests, expressing satisfaction with President William Ruto’s recent Cabinet changes.
In recent changes, Ruto included opposition members in his newly reconstituted Cabinet, which he swore into office on Thursday morning in Nairobi. This move is part of his efforts to reset his administration following a period of intense public dissatisfaction.
In July, Ruto dismissed nearly the entire Cabinet in response to widespread protests. He now appeals to Kenyans to allow the new Cabinet members the opportunity to fulfill their roles and address the concerns that fueled the unrest, which was sparked by controversial new tax measures introduced in June.
“I am persuaded that this moment in the life of our nation calls on us to build a strong ‘team of rivals’ to give our transformation agenda the best chance of success and to enhance inclusivity in national development,” he said.
Since the protests began on June 18, over 50 people have died and 400 others have been injured, according to the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights. The protests initially focused on tax increases but evolved to address broader issues of governance and government spending.
In response to widespread public outcry, the president dissolved his Cabinet in mid-July following a series of anti-government demonstrations led by young protesters in June. These protests were triggered by the Finance Bill 2024, which aimed to raise an additional 346.7 billion Kenyan shillings (about 2.7 billion U.S. dollars) through new taxes.
The bill, which has since been withdrawn, included provisions that would increase taxes on essential goods and services, such as bread, and on mobile money transfers.