Nairobi, Kenya | By Michael Wandati | On Tuesday, three more people lost their lives in the anti-government protests across Kenya, raising the death toll to 53 since the demonstrations began about a month ago.
The protests have been marked by heavy-handed police tactics, with officers frequently using excessive force against demonstrators.
In Kitengela, Kajiado County, one person was fatally shot when police deployed tear gas to disperse the crowd. The protesters burned tyres, waved Kenyan flags and chanted “Ruto Must Go!”
In Nakuru, a journalist was injured, with television footage showing her bleeding from her thigh.
Another victim was killed in the Nairobi Central Business District, with CCTV footage capturing the moment the protester was struck by a police bullet.
A particularly violent incident occurred on Moi Avenue in Nairobi, where police shot a young man who was fleeing the scene. CCTV footage, recorded at noon, shows three people running from the police. Moments later, one of them falls after a speeding police vehicle, which was part of a convoy of unmarked cars with masked officers, passed by.
During the anti-government protests, the police fired tear gas canisters and live rounds. Several demonstrators were injured, and at least 30 were treated at Bliss Moi Avenue Hospital, some with gunshot wounds.
Those in critical condition were transferred to nearby referral hospitals. The chaos even reached the hospital itself, with medical staff having to take cover when police launched tear gas inside the facility.
Njeri Wa Migwi, an activist who was protesting in downtown Nairobi, said the demonstration was entirely peaceful until police started firing tear gas.
“Today feels very insidious. It was like the police were out to get us,” she said.
For the first time, police used a rare orange powder to disperse the anti-government protests. The powder, initially feared to be toxic, was later explained by the police as an irritant with a coloration meant to mark the protesters for identification.
In response to the escalating violence, the Ministry of Interior and National Administration recommended the creation of the office of the Coroner General to investigate deaths, including those caused by police actions.
The ongoing protests have precipitated the most significant crisis of President Ruto’s two-year tenure.
With Kenya allocating over 30% of its revenue to service interest on its debt, Ruto finds himself in a difficult position. He must balance the demands of international lenders, who are urging deficit reductions, against the struggles of a population burdened by escalating living costs.
“Ruto is very incompetent,” said one protester in Nairobi who did not give his name. “The guy is a puppet to the IMF.”
Young Kenyan protesters have directed significant anger toward the International Monetary Fund (IMF), accusing it of driving the proposed tax increases.
The IMF, however, maintains that its primary objective through lending programs with Kenya is to help the nation navigate economic challenges and improve the well-being of its citizens.
President Ruto’s administration announced plans for “multi-sectoral” discussions this week to address the concerns of the protesters. Despite this announcement, there is no indication that these talks have commenced.
Leading activists have largely dismissed the invitation, instead demanding immediate action on critical issues such as corruption.
Requests for comments from Ruto’s spokesperson went unanswered.
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The protests, which began peacefully, have since turned violent. On June 25, some demonstrators briefly stormed Parliament, prompting police to open fire.
According to the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), the unrest has resulted in 50 deaths, 413 injuries, 682 arbitrary detentions, and 59 abductions or missing persons linked to the protests.
President Ruto has pledged to investigate allegations of abuse but has broadly defended the actions of the police. Last week, he accepted the resignation of the national police chief, a move that had been demanded by the protesters.
On Monday, Ruto accused the Ford Foundation, an American philanthropic organization, of sponsoring individuals responsible for “violence and mayhem” in Kenya, though he provided no evidence to support this claim.
The Ford Foundation denied the allegation, asserting that it does not fund or sponsor protests and maintains a strictly non-partisan policy in its grant-making.
