Kenyan authorities have used tear gas to disperse crowds of anti-government protesters in Nairobi and Mombasa, amid ongoing demonstrations against a contentious finance bill.
The protests, which have also spread to cities like Kisumu, have prompted widespread closures of businesses in city centers.
Human rights organizations report that 39 people have died in clashes with security forces since the protests began two weeks ago, initially targeting proposed tax hikes.
President William Ruto has since withdrawn the tax increases, but the demonstrations have evolved into broader demands for his resignation and condemnation of police brutality, marking a significant challenge to his presidency.
While the scale of demonstrations has decreased from previous weeks, chaotic scenes erupted in Mombasa where clashes between protesters and police led to vehicle fires. In Nairobi, a heavy security presence has resulted in skirmishes along major thoroughfares, with protesters setting fires and pelting stones at law enforcement.
In Nairobi and Mombasa’s central business districts, shop owners have organized vigilante groups wielding clubs to prevent looting. Astin Kibowen, a 21-year-old guarding a music shop in Nairobi, expressed frustration, stating, “We want the president to hear our pleas, to heed our voices.”
Since assuming office two years ago with promises to stimulate the economy, President Ruto’s administration has faced mounting public discontent over rising living costs exacerbated by increased taxes on wages, fuel, and sales.
