Police block roads, businesses close ahead of planned protests in Kenya - Africa
Police officers were stopping private and public vehicles from accessing the city center. They were also blocking most pedestrians from entering the capital, only allowing through those deemed to have essential duties.
Kenyans had planned demonstrations on July 7 to protest police brutality, poor governance, and to demand President William Ruto's resignation over alleged corruption and the high cost of living.
July 7 is a significant date in Kenya's recent history, marking the first major protests 35 years ago that called for a transition from a one-party state to a multiparty democracy, which was realized in the 1992 elections.
Public Service Minister Geoffrey Ruku had urged all government employees to report to work on Monday, insisting that the demonstrations would not disrupt public services.
Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen said on Sunday that the government would not tolerate violent protests and that police would be deployed to ensure public safety.
The roads leading to the country's parliament and the president's office were barricaded using razor wire.
In the outskirts of the city in Kitengela town, police fired tear gas Monday to disperse protesters who had lit bonfires on the road that connects to neighboring Tanzania.
The country has recently experienced a wave of violent demonstrations, initially sparked by calls for police accountability following the death of a blogger in police custody.
During protests on June 17, a civilian was shot at close range by police officers, further angering the public and prompting plans for additional demonstrations.
On June 25, at least 16 people were killed and more than 400 injured during protests against police brutality, which were timed to coincide with the one-year anniversary of anti-tax protests where over 60 people lost their lives.
Follow us on:
Short link:
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al-Ahram Weekly
7 hours ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Cameroon's 92-year-old president seeks 8th term amid health rumors and political challenges - Africa
Cameroon's 92-year-old president announced Monday he will seek his eighth term in the upcoming October elections. The announcement comes after months of speculation that the aging leader would not run, setting the stage for an electoral showdown. Paul Biya, Africa's second longest serving president after Teodoro Obiang of Equatorial Guinea, is frequently sick and abroad. Last year, talk spread that he had died, prompting the government to publicly deny the rumors. Cameroon's second president since independence from France in 1960, Biya has been in power since 1982. Promising that the best is yet to come in his post on social media, Biya reiterated his determination to rule, saying, 'Rest assured that my determination to serve you is commensurate with the serious challenges facing us." The more than 40 years of Biya's rule have left a lasting impact. His government has faced various challenges, including allegations of corruption and a secessionist movement in Cameroon's English-speaking provinces that has forced thousands out of school and triggered deadly clashes with security forces. 'President Biya's announcement to run again is a clear sign of Cameroon's stalled political transition. After over 40 years in power, what the country needs is renewal — not repetition. Cameroonians deserve democratic change and accountable leadership,' Nkongho Felix Agbor, a human rights advocate and lawyer told The Associated Press. Cameroon has also had to deal with spillover violence by the Islamic extremist Boko Haram group, based in neighboring Nigeria. Recently, several of Biya's longtime allies defected to announce their own candidacies for president. He cruised to victory in 2018 with over 70 percent of the vote in an election marred by irregularities and low turnout due to ongoing separatist and jihadi violence. In a region threatened with shrinking democratic space, several other African countries also have presidents accused of using state mechanisms to prolong their stay in power. Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni recently sought nomination for a seventh term, a move that would bring him closer to five decades in power in the East African country. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Al-Ahram Weekly
a day ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Syrian, Israeli officials to meet in Baku: Diplomatic source in Damascus - Region
A Syrian and an Israeli official are expected to meet in Baku later Saturday on the sidelines of President Ahmed al-Sharaa's visit to Azerbaijan, a diplomatic source in Damascus with knowledge of the issue said. "There will be a meeting between a Syrian official and an Israeli official on the sidelines of the visit being conducted by Sharaa in Baku," said the source, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue. Israel is a major arms supplier to Azerbaijan and has a significant diplomatic presence in the Caucasus nation which neighbours its arch foe Iran. The diplomatic source stressed that Sharaa himself would not attend the Baku meeting, which would focus on "the recent Israeli military presence in Syria". After the December overthrow of Bashar al-Assad, Israel launched hundreds of air strikes in Syria, blatantly violating its sovereignty under the pretext of preventing key military assets from falling into the hands of the Islamist-led administration under Sharaa. It also occupied the UN-patrolled buffer zone that used to separate the opposing forces on the strategic Golan Heights, from which it has conducted forays deeper into southern Syria. Sharaa has said repeatedly that Syria does not seek conflict with its neighbours, and has instead asked the international community to put pressure on Israel to halt its attacks. His government recently confirmed that it had held indirect contacts with Israel seeking a return to the 1974 disengagement agreement which created the buffer zone. Israel has repeatedly characterised Sharaa's government as jihadist, in reference to his past links with Al-Qaeda. But late last month, Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said Israel was interested in striking a peace and normalisation agreement with Syria. A Syria government source quoted by state media responded that such talk was "premature". But during a visit to Lebanon this week, US special envoy to Syria Tom Barrack said: "The dialogue has started between Syria and Israel". After meeting Sharaa in Riyadh in May, US President Donald Trump told reporters he had expressed hope that Syria would join other Arab states which normalised their relations with Israel. "(Sharaa) said yes. But they have a lot of work to do," Trump said. The Syrian president arrived in Baku earlier Saturday for talks with his counterpart Ilham Aliyev. Azerbaijan announced it would begin exporting gas to Syria via Turkey, according to a statement from the Azerbaijani presidency. *This story was edited by Ahram Online. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Al-Ahram Weekly
a day ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Azerbaijan to send gas to Syria as Baku hosts Sharaa - Region
Azerbaijan will send its gas to Syria in a bid to address the country's energy shortages, Baku said Saturday as President Ilham Aliyev hosted Syria's new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa. Syria's Islamist authorities, who toppled Bashar al-Assad in December, are seeking to rebuild the country's infrastructure and economy after almost 14 years of civil war. The conflict badly damaged Syria's power infrastructure, leading to cuts that can last for more than 20 hours a day. On Saturday, Ahmed al-Sharaa visited Azerbaijan and held talks with Aliyev, the Azerbaijani presidency said. "The importance of cooperation between our countries, particularly in the energy sector, was highlighted at the meeting, and it was reported that Syria is currently facing a serious energy problem," the presidency said in a statement. "A project to export Azerbaijani gas to Syria via Turkey will be implemented in the near future, which will contribute to ensuring the energy security of this country," the statement added. In May, Syrian Energy Minister Mohammad al-Bashir said Damascus and Ankara had reached a deal for Turkey to supply natural gas to the war-torn country via a pipeline in the north. Gas-rich Azerbaijan is a historic ally of Turkey which maintains close ties with the Syrian transitional government. Ilham Aliyev has regularly aligned himself with Turkey's positions on international issues, including Syria. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
