Tensions boiled over in Kenya on Tuesday as anti-government protests, which have been simmering for over a month, turned deadly. Police clashed violently with demonstrators in the capital city of Nairobi, firing tear gas and water cannons in an attempt to quell the unrest.
Eyewitness Njeri Wa Migwi, who participated in the Nairobi protest, described the scene as entirely peaceful until police provoked the protesters. “Today feels very insidious,” she said. “It was like the police were out to get us.”
The protests, which began as opposition to planned tax hikes, have morphed into a broader movement demanding the resignation of President William Ruto. Activists are also calling for systemic reforms to combat corruption and poor governance under the Ruto administration.
Despite Ruto’s attempts to appease protesters by withdrawing the tax legislation and firing most of his cabinet, the demonstrations have only intensified. Protesters feel the president has failed to adequately address their core grievances.
“We are asking genuine questions,” said demonstrator Daniel Wambua. “Where is accountability? Where is governance?”
The violence spread beyond Nairobi, with reports of protests in at least 23 of Kenya’s 47 counties. A Reuters journalist in the town of Kitengela witnessed the body of a protester lying on the ground with a bloody head wound, though police have not commented on the death.
In a separate incident, Mediamax journalist Catherine Kariuki was shot by a police officer while covering the protests in Nakuru. The Kenya Union of Journalists condemned the “targeted attack” and demanded a swift investigation.
The Interior Ministry defended the police response, stating that officers will use “reasonable force” when “protests escalate to criminalities.” However, the ministry also recommended an investigation into the deaths resulting from the clashes.
As the standoff continues, activists have vowed a “total shutdown” until Ruto resigns. The president’s concessions so far have done little to quell the growing unrest sweeping across Kenya.