Kenyans Insist “Ruto Must Go!” At Tuesday’s Protests

Emmanuel EjioforJuly 2, 20241 Mins read245

Screenshot of the protests. Source: Citizen TV Kenya

In the second-largest city of Kenya, Mombasa, hundreds of protesters marched through the city on Tuesday, carrying palm fronds, blowing plastic horns, and beating drums while chanting “Ruto must go!”

And in Nairobi, the capital, clouds of tear gas filled the air as protesters set fires on the road and threw stones at police.

Kenyan riot police fired tear gas at protesters in Nairobi, while demonstrations took place in other cities across the country.

Protesters are demanding the resignation of President William Ruto after a week of deadly clashes over proposed tax increases bill, which Ruto has withdrawn as a result.

The protest movement, which is organised mainly via social media with no official leaders, has rejected Ruto’s calls for dialogue, even after he abandoned the proposed tax hikes.

kenya 🇰🇪 with its institutions, belongs to the people who inhabit it and not corrupt murderous politicians.

If you’ve been following me and admire my values and what I stand for, turn out in large numbers across 🇰🇪 and apply pressure.

We must always take sides. Neutrality… pic.twitter.com/t7KfEKFzJv

— dennis ombachi OLY (@ombachi13) July 2, 2024

Protests also took place in Kisumu, Nakuru, Kajiado, Migori, Mlolongo, and Rongo, according to images broadcast on Kenyan television. In Migori, protesters set tyres on fire.

Kenyan authorities have called for the protesters — who are majorly youths — to be calm.

State House communications director, Gerald Bitok, posted on X, saying, “It’s a beautiful day to choose patriotism. A beautiful day to choose peace, order and the sanctity of our nationhood.”

“Violence is not patriotism,” he added in Swahili.

Since June 18 when the protests began, dozens of Kenyans have died in clashes with police, most of them shot last Tuesday when some protesters attempted to storm parliament to prevent a vote on tax increases. The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNHCR) reports at least 39 deaths.