(Nairobi) A few clashes broke out Tuesday between police and demonstrators in the center of the Kenyan capital Nairobi, where thousands of people gathered as part of an unprecedented anti-government movement led by young people.
Other demonstrations were held peacefully, without any police opposition, in several other cities in the country, notably in the opposition strongholds of Mombasa (east) and Kisumu (west), in Eldoret (west), a large city in the valley. Rift, President William Ruto’s home region, Nyeri (southwest) and Nakuru (central), according to local media.
In Nairobi, the demonstrators – mainly young people who came with Kenyan flags, whistles or vuvuzelas and chanting “We are peaceful” – encountered a large police force deployed in the business center (CBD), notably blocking access to the Parliament where the vote on the 2024-25 draft budget began, which sparked the protest.
Tensions rose throughout the morning, with police using tear gas and then rubber bullets. Clashes broke out around midday after protesters advanced into an area housing government buildings (Supreme Court, Nairobi City Hall, etc.).
Largely peaceful, the movement called “Occupy Parliament” was launched on social networks shortly after the presentation to Parliament on June 13 of the 2024-2025 draft budget providing for the introduction of new taxes, including one 16% VAT on bread and an annual tax of 2.5% on private vehicles.
The government announced on June 18 that it was withdrawing most of the measures, but the demonstrators continued their movement, demanding the complete withdrawal of the text. They denounce a sleight of hand by the government which plans to compensate for the withdrawal of certain tax measures by others, in particular a 50% increase in fuel taxes.
Initially led by “Generation Z” (young people born after 1997), the movement has transformed into a broader challenge to President Ruto’s policies. The head of state said he was ready to dialogue with young people on Sunday.
Moody Kimwele, 41, came with his 15-year-old son to denounce the increasing burden of taxes since the start of the Ruto presidency in September 2022.
“What did they do with the money? Can they account for the money they used in the last financial year? We don’t see anything about what they collected,” he said.
“We are not afraid of anything,” says Stephanie Wangari, an unemployed 24-year-old: “Ruto has never kept his promises, even to provide work for young people. We are tired. Let him go.”
“Despite mass arrests and injuries, the demonstrations continued to grow, highlighting the widespread discontent of the population,” Amnesty International Kenya said in a statement on Monday, warning of a risk of “escalation [ which] could lead to more deaths.”
Amnesty and the NGO Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) have accused the authorities of carrying out kidnappings of activists.
Police spokesperson Resila Onyango did not respond to requests from AFP about these accusations.
The draft budget must be voted on in Parliament before June 30.
For the government, these taxes are necessary to restore room for maneuver to the country, which is heavily in debt.
Kenya, an East African country of around 52 million people, is an economic powerhouse in the region.
But the country recorded year-on-year inflation of 5.1% in May, with food and fuel prices rising by 6.2% and 7.8% respectively, according to the Central Bank.
