At least one person was killed on Tuesday as anti-government protests escalated across Kenya, with police clashing with demonstrators demanding President William Ruto’s resignation.
The protests, initially sparked by proposed tax hikes a month ago, have continued despite Ruto withdrawing the legislation and dismissing nearly his entire cabinet. Activists are now calling for Ruto to step down, citing corruption and poor governance.
The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) reported that at least 50 people have been killed since the protests began.
In Kitengela, near Nairobi, police fired at protesters who were throwing rocks, burning tires, and chanting “Ruto must go!” Reuters TV footage showed. One protester was seen lying on the ground with a head wound. The national police spokesperson declined to comment.
Tuesday’s protests were some of the largest since the tax increases were withdrawn on June 26, with demonstrations reported in at least 23 of Kenya’s 47 counties.
In Nairobi’s city center, riot police used tear gas on several dozen protesters. An ambulance service shared footage of an injured person being carried away on a stretcher. In Mombasa, demonstrators waved palm fronds and burned litter in the streets, as shown on Kenyan television.
The protests have become the biggest crisis of Ruto’s two-year presidency. With Kenya spending over 30% of its revenues on debt interest, Ruto faces pressure from lenders to cut deficits while the population struggles with rising living costs.
A protester in Nairobi criticized Ruto’s leadership, accusing him of being a puppet to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which has been a major target of protesters’ anger.
The IMF stated its goal is to help Kenya overcome economic challenges and improve its people’s well-being.
Ruto’s office announced “multi-sectoral” talks to address protester grievances, but there was no indication they had begun. Most leading activists have rejected the talks, demanding immediate action on corruption and other issues.
Ruto’s spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.
The protests, which began peacefully, have turned violent. On June 25, some demonstrators briefly stormed parliament, leading to police opening fire.
In addition to the 50 deaths, KNCHR reported 413 injuries, 682 arbitrary detentions, and 59 abductions or missing persons related to the protests.
Ruto has promised to investigate abuse accusations but defended the police’s conduct, blaming criminals for hijacking peaceful protests. On Monday, he accused the Ford Foundation of sponsoring violence without providing evidence. The Ford Foundation denied the allegation, maintaining a non-partisan policy for its grants.
