Protests in Kenya have intensified, with demonstrators calling for President William Ruto’s resignation despite his recent concessions.
One protester was fatally shot in a confrontation with security forces in Kitengela, on the outskirts of Nairobi.
Police have used tear gas to disperse protesters in central Nairobi, where shops have been closed.The protests, which began last month over a controversial tax bill, have evolved into broader demands for good governance, accountability, and an end to police brutality.
President Ruto has attempted to address the situation by calling for dialogue, firing his cabinet, and accepting the resignation of the police chief.
However, protest leaders, largely coordinated online by young Kenyans, have rejected talks and are demanding the president’s resignation.
Violent clashes have been reported in multiple cities, including Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, and Nyeri, resulting in injuries and fatalities. A Kenyan television reporter was shot and injured while covering the protests in Nakuru. According to Kenya’s Daily Nation, protests have spread to nearly half of the country’s 47 counties.
The tax bill, which sparked the protests, was withdrawn after demonstrators stormed the parliament building complex on June 25.
The state-funded rights body has reported at least 50 deaths and 413 injuries since the protests began. The acting police chief has urged protesters to remain peaceful and vigilant, while the president has accused the Ford Foundation of funding the protests, which the organization has denied.
