Multiple Fatalities Reported As Kenyans Protest President William Ruto’s Government – The American Spectator | USA News and PoliticsThe American Spectator

Massive protests in Kenya’s major cities have resulted in the death of at least 16 individuals, with 400 injuries reported by the human rights group Amnesty International. 

Wednesday’s protest marked the first anniversary of deadly demonstrations in 2024, which left 60 individuals dead following a protest against a tax hike. 

This year, the protest was turbulent due to the death of a blogger, Albert Ojwang, who was beaten to death earlier this month while in police custody in Nairobi. The riots also resulted in significant looting and property damage, with reports of multiple torched buildings and destroyed storefronts. 

The demonstrations, which have been on and off for the past year, are largely led by young Kenyans who mobilize through social media, often using hashtags such as #RejectFinanceBill2024, #OccupyParliament, and #RutoMustGo.

The BBC reported that Kenyan police blocked roads in major cities with barricades and razor wire, particularly roads to the state house and parliament. Of the 400 individuals injured, 83 required “specialized treatment,” and eight were treated for gunshot wounds.

Rising debt and economic mismanagement are at the center of the Kenyan protests, as the country’s debt surged from 42 percent to 69 percent of GDP under President William Ruto, with the government now spending 60 percent of revenue on interest payments. 

In June 2024, the same groups of young Kenyans stormed the capital, resulting in police use of tear gas and live ammunition. This protest was sparked by a proposed finance bill, which would have raised taxes on bread, fuel, and cooking oil. After the 2024 riot, Ruto withdrew the bill and fired much of his cabinet.

This eased some tensions among protesters, but violence was reignited by the death of Albert Ojwang. Government corruption within the country has also played a major role in the contentions, through excessive debt, lavish spending, and corruption scandals.

Most notably, the Arror-Kimwarer dam scandal was a major graft case under Ruto’s watch and resulted in his ranking as the most corrupt president in Africa. In this scandal, the Kenyan government lied about the construction of a hydroelectric dam, stealing billions of dollars in government spending. 

Similar instances of corruption and financial instability, paired with the wrongful death of Ojwang, have pushed Kenya’s younger generations to a boiling point. 

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