Ahead of anticipated new anti-government rallies, Kenyan police patrolled the streets of Nairobi, the country’s capital, on Thursday. They also erected barricades along important thoroughfares and closed numerous stores.
Weeks of occasionally lethal protests against President William Ruto’s two-year-old administration, primarily organized by young Kenyans from Generation Z, have rocked the East African nation.
The nation’s acting police chief had warned on Wednesday that “criminals” intended to infiltrate the demonstrations and said people should not trespass on avoid “protected areas” such as the main international airport and State House, the president’s official residence.
In a post on X, the acting inspector general of police Gilbert Masengeli said “adequate security personnel” had been deployed, but advised the public to “take extra caution while in crowded areas that are likely to turn riotous”.
Although the June-starting protests have gotten smaller recently, internet posters have been circulated calling for new protests that would commemorate August 8th, which is known as “Nane Nane” or “Eight Eight” in Swahili.
Masengeli issued a warning about “criminals planning to infiltrate tomorrow’s Nane Nane demonstrations and commit further crimes” in his statement on Wednesday.
The protest organizers have previously charged that “goons” are instigating violence and sabotaging their intentions for nonviolent protest.
Now that the protests have started, at least 60 people have died. Originally intended to be nonviolent protests over contentious tax increases, they have grown into larger movements against Ruto and what many see to be corrupt and wasteful government spending.
Police have been accused of using excessive force, sometimes firing live bullets at protesters, while dozens of people have gone missing, according to rights groups.
Government spokesman Isaac Mwaura on Wednesday urged young Kenyans to “avoid unchecked protests, which could lead to further economic hardships and hinder their chances of gaining employment”.
Mwaura also claimed the spread of misinformation had contributed to the protests, telling people to “ignore these calls to violence”.
Ruto has reorganized his whole cabinet, axed tax increases, and made significant budget cuts in an effort to address the public’s ire amid the biggest crisis of his presidency.
He has been forced to choose between the expectations of foreign lenders to support government finances so that it can pay off its enormous $78 billion debt and the needs of regular Kenyans who are having a hard time making ends meet.
