Kenya’s police chief resigns following criticism over protests
Nairobi, Kenya Reuters Kenya’s police chief Japhet Koome resigned on Friday following intense criticism of officers’ conduct during anti-government protests last month in which at least 39 people were killed. President William Ruto’s office announced Koome’s resignation the day after he fired nearly his entire cabinet, bowing to the demands of protesters. Koome’s deputy Douglas […]
Kenyan President sacks cabinet, bowing to pressure from protests
Nairobi, Kenya Reuters Kenyan President William Ruto on Thursday fired his entire cabinet apart from the foreign minister, bowing to pressure from nationwide protests that have created the biggest crisis of his two-year presidency. The youth-led protests against planned tax hikes started off peacefully but turned violent, killing at least 39 people in clashes with […]
Church leaders pledge support for protesting youth in Kenya
Nairobi, Kenya Church leaders from different denominations have pledged their support for the youth participating in anti-government protests. They have called on President William Ruto to dissolve his cabinet, reconstruct it, and ensure that police officers who used excessive force against protesters are held accountable under the law. The young demonstrators successfully advocated for the […]
Kenyans hold concert to remember those killed in protests
Nairobi, Kenya Reuters Hundreds of Kenyans attended a concert in the nation’s capital Nairobi on Sunday, chanting slogans and dancing, to commemorate the more than three dozen people killed in recent anti-government protests. At least 39 people were killed in the demonstrations that started on 18th June, as protesters pushed for planned tax hikes to […]
Tear gas, stones and flames as Kenya protesters say “Ruto must go!”
Nairobi/Mombasa Reuters Riot police fired tear gas grenades and charged at stone-throwing protesters in downtown Nairobi and across Kenya on Tuesday in the most widespread unrest since at least two dozen protesters died in clashes a week ago. The nationwide demonstrations signalled that President William Ruto had failed to appease a spontaneous youth protest movement, […]
Kenyan activists call for fresh protests demanding Ruto’s resignation
Nairobi, Kenya Reuters Kenyan activists on Friday circulated calls for fresh protests, strikes and sit-ins demanding President William Ruto quit, after nationwide demonstrations forced him to U-turn on proposed tax hikes. Ruto withdrew the contested finance bill on Wednesday and said he would listen to young people, a day after parliament was briefly stormed and […]
Kenyan police fire on protesters in new clashes after President’s tax climbdown
Nairobi, Kenya Reuters A climbdown by Kenya’s President over plans to raise taxes brought no end to nationwide protests on Thursday, with at least two people reported killed in clashes near the capital Nairobi and others shot by police elsewhere. A day after President William Ruto abandoned a tax hike bill, demonstrators in Nairobi, Mombasa, […]
Kenya President backs down on tax hikes after at least 23 die in clashes
Nairobi, Kenya Reuters Kenyan President William Ruto on Wednesday withdrew planned tax hikes, bowing to pressure from protesters who had stormed parliament, launched demonstrations across the country and threatened more action this week. The move will be seen as a major victory for a week-old, youth-led protest movement that grew from online condemnations of tax […]
Police fire tear gas, water cannon at anti-tax protesters in Kenya capital
Nairobi, Kenya Reuters Riot police in Nairobi fired tear gas and water cannon to disperse thousands of demonstrators on Thursday as coordinated marches took place across Kenya against government plans to raise $US2.7 billion in additional taxes. Late into the protest on Thursday, officers fired tear gas to disperse protesters who were marching on a […]