Anti-government protests gain traction in Kenya

Protesters took to the streets in various Kenyan cities calling for President Ruto to step down, as police shot tear gas and clashed with demonstrators.

At least one person was killed in the renewed protests, despite president Ruto firing most of his cabinet members, Reuters reported.

The protests erupted against tax hikes a month ago, following a contentious legislation that aimed to raise 78 billion dollars to address the country’s soaring debt.

In the country’s major cities of Nairobi and Mombasa, protesters set tires to fire and blocked roads as police used water cannons and tear gas to disperse the crowds.

In total, at least 50 people have been killed in the protests according to the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), which also cited cases of enforced disappearances.

The demonstrators and the failure of the government to meet the aspirations of the youth, known as generation Z, put President Ruto under a rough test.

The tax reform is part of IMF conditionality for a 2.34 billion loan issued in April 2021.