Kenyan police fired tear gas on protesters in Nairobi today, August 8, 2024, as demonstrations against President William Ruto continued.
The protests have been ongoing for weeks, with at least 60 people reported killed and accusations of police using excessive force.
In Nairobi’s central business district, police set up roadblocks and patrolled the streets. Many shops were closed as only a few dozen demonstrators gathered, chanting “we are peaceful.” Police fired tear gas and detained several protesters.
Stephens Wanjiku, a 29-year-old fashion stylist, said, “I have been beaten,” referring to her experiences since the protests began in June. Wanjiku, who wore a bright blue robe and multiple masks, added, “Police brutality should be a thing of the past, we should not be seeing it in 2024.”
Gilbert Masengeli, Kenya’s acting police chief, had warned that “criminals” might infiltrate the demonstrations. He advised people to avoid areas like the international airport and President Ruto’s official residence.
The protests started as youth-led rallies against proposed tax hikes and have expanded to include demands for better governance and an end to government corruption. While the protests have become smaller, today’s demonstrations were called “Nane Nane” (Eight Eight) to mark the date.
President Ruto, who took office in September 2022, has made several changes to address public anger, including scrapping the tax hikes and reshuffling his cabinet. He described today’s installation of a new “broad-based” cabinet, which includes opposition members and previously sacked ministers, as the beginning of a “new chapter” for Kenya.
Ruto is caught between the demands of international lenders to manage Kenya’s $78-billion debt and the struggles of ordinary Kenyans facing a cost-of-living crisis. Despite economic growth of 5.4% this year, a third of Kenya’s 52 million people live in poverty.
Edwin Kagia, a 24-year-old selling masks, said, “We have to wait. Right now what Kenya needs today… is to give our president time.”
