Latest news with #SabaSabaDay
France 24
16 hours ago
- Politics
- France 24
Crackdown in Kenya: can authorities silence Gen Z protests?
Africa 44:28 From the show Rubber bullets, tear gas, water cannons, live rounds... Can Kenya's police beat the defiance of a new generation into submission? These scenes from Monday's Saba Saba Day marches that marked 35 years since the spark of the movement that led to a return of multiparty rule. We'll ask about the 31 dead on the day, the increasingly heavy hand of authorities since last year's anti-tax demonstrations and the demands of the so-called Gen-Z movement. Ahead of Saba Saba Day, the funeral in his home village of 31-year old blogger Albert Ojwang who died last month in the hands of police custody. How much of a test for Kenya's democracy, one of the few in the region? President William Ruto, who in a past life was cleared over post-electoral violence at the International Criminal Court, had managed to recast himself as a mainstream politician courted on the world stage. He's defiant in the face of those calling for his departure before the end of his mandate in 2027. What next for Ruto and the largely leaderless movement defying him? Produced by Rebecca Gnignati, Elisa Amiri, Ilayda Habip.
Muscat Daily
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Muscat Daily
Kenya: Tensions after more deadly protests
Nairobi, Kenya – Businesses remained closed and roadblocks in place amid tentative calm after violent unrest in Nairobi and other parts of Kenya on Monday. In Embu, to the northeast of the capital, protesters gathered once more on Tuesday after a lawmaker was arrested, says DW's Andrew Wasike. 'Angry residents have lit bonfires and barricaded roads with stones, paralysing traffic in parts of the town,' Wasike says. The protesters are accusing government of political persecution and demanding the release of lawmaker Gitonga Mukunji. The authorities reportedly accused the lawmaker of inciting citizens to protest on the 35th anniversary of the pro-democracy Saba Saba uprising. Meanwhile, in the central city of Kiambu on Tuesday, the case of a girl killed by a stray bullet during the Saba Saba Day unrest was fuelling public anger. 'Protesters took to the streets by the hundreds to call for justice for the family of the 12-year-old,' Wasike says. According to police, over 560 people were arrested in the Saba Saba Day unrest where protesters called on President William Ruto to resign. Government response – 'authoritarianism' On Wednesday, Ruto issued a stern warning: Anyone deciding to storm a person's business or a police station should be shot in the leg. Thereafter, they can go to court and see what follows next.' The government would not tolerate people who want to ''change the government using unconstitutional means,' Ruto said. 'Those plotting to remove me from office before 2027 must know we will not let them destroy this country through unconstitutional means.' Over the past year, Kenya has seen waves of deadly anti-government protests. On June 25, at least 19 people were killed and over 400 injured in clashes between protesters and police. Isabel Brenda, a senior elections and governance advisor at the Electoral Law and Governance Institute for Africa, is critical of the government's response. 'The government's reaction is very unfortunate because the government, of course, has panicked and is resorting to authoritarianism and over-policing, which has led to loss of lives,' Brenda told DW. Many of the protesters are youth, who say they are frustrated by corruption, economic hardship and poor governance. Protesters this week reiterated their calls for an end to police brutality, and for equality and opportunities. 'There's serious unemployment gaps and issues with young people. The cost of living is very high. So, these are some of the issues that are really pressing Kenyan citizens,' says Brenda. Business owners are worried Shops were torched and ransacked in the unrest. 'Look, everything is burnt,' one Nairobi shopkeeper told Reuters this week 'So please,' the shopkeeper addressed the government, 'try to talk to the Gen Zs. Because all that is happening is because of the Gen Zs.' Some business owners say the unrest is threatening their livelihoods. 'Things are so tough in our country right now. Sometimes you come from morning until evening, and you've not sold. And these are things that we've invested in for so long. We are appealing for calm,' a trader told Reuters. According to Brenda, the decentralised nature of the protests has contributed to the volatility. 'The Gen Zs, as you know, are leaderless; they are party-less, they are tribe-less. They don't believe in going into ethnic cocoons,' she told DW. Is there a solution? In the runup to Saba Saba Day, Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen said the government was committed to protecting life and property. 'Our security agencies are on high alert to deal decisively with criminals and other elements of ill intent who may seek to infiltrate peaceful processions to cause havoc, mayhem, or destruction of property,' Murkomen said. Brenda warns that the government risks underestimating the scale of the public discontent. 'I will echo what I think the country is feeling in terms of the government not listening to its people. It's tone deaf. These are young people who are saying that we are tired of bad governance, and we want changes,' she said. 'I mean, you cannot bury your head in the sand simply because you are unhappy with what young people are saying. I would rather you remove your head from the sand and listen to what is being said. Come to the table, find solutions.' DW
The Citizen
21 hours ago
- Politics
- The Citizen
Kenya's president warns against bid to ‘overthrow' govt by protests
Kenya's president warns against 'overthrow attempts' and tells police to shoot violent protesters in the leg after 31 die in unrest. Protesters react amid clouds of tear gas fired by Kenya police officers during clashes at Saba Saba Day demonstrations in Nairobi on July 7, 2025. Kenya marked its fight for democracy on July 7, 2025 with police blocking main roads in Nairobi ahead of potential protests, after last month's demonstrations descended into violent clashes. Saba Saba Day marks the uprising on July 7, 1990 when Kenyans demanded a return to multi-party democracy after years of autocratic rule by then-president Daniel arap Moi. (Photo by SIMON MAINA / AFP) Kenyan President William Ruto warned Wednesday against attempts to 'overthrow' the government through 'unconstitutional means' and ordered police to shoot violent protesters in the leg, days after 31 people were killed in nationwide anti-government demonstrations. His toughest remarks yet come as the east African nation faces a wave of violent protests over economic stagnation, corruption and police brutality. 'They want to start chaos, organise protests, burn people's property, bring disaster so as to overthrow the government before 2027… This is a democratic country,' Ruto told supporters in the capital Nairobi, speaking in Swahili. 'This country will not be destroyed by a few people who are impatient and want a change of government through unconstitutional means,' he said. 'You cannot sponsor violence and go scot-free,' he added, saying any attacks on the police would be seen as a 'declaration of war'. Ruto, who was elected in 2022, also said violent protesters 'should be shot in the leg, be taken to hospital and taken to court'. ALSO READ: Eight killed as deadly clashes erupt in Kenya on protest anniversary The demonstrations began in June last year as a youth-led anti-taxation protest, which subsequently forced the government to withdraw the contested finance bill. But many of Kenya's youth are once again engaging in protests, which last month degenerated into looting and violence, killing dozens and destroying thousands of businesses. They are disillusioned by the economic situation, corruption and high taxes, as well as police brutality after a teacher died in custody last month. Fifty-one people have died in protests over the last two months, according to an AFP tally citing rights groups. Rallies early this week saw hundreds arrested and scores wounded. Rights groups said 31 people died across the country in the protests which marked Saba Saba day — meaning Seven Seven — or July 7, 1990 when Kenyans rose up to demand a return to multi-party democracy after years of autocratic rule by then-president Daniel arap Moi. ALSO READ: Kenyan anniversary protests turn violent Protesters accuse the authorities of paying armed vandals to discredit their movement, while the government compared a demonstration in June to an 'attempted coup'. Boycott call Opposition leaders, including Ruto's former deputy and ally Rigathi Gachagua, have accused the government of unleashing state-sponsored violence against its citizens, slamming it as 'hostile'. On Tuesday, they called on the public to 'boycott all businesses, services and institutions owned, operated or publicly linked to this regime and its enablers'. Gachagua campaigned for Ruto during the 2022 election but the two fell out last year, leading to his impeachment. Ruto's allies have accused Gachagua of bankrolling violent protests, with some calling for his arrest. He has denied the accusations. ALSO READ: Motorbike-riding 'goons' attack Kenya protesters Marches last month marked the one-year anniversary of the anti-tax protests that saw young demonstrators breach parliament on June 25, with rights groups saying at least 60 people died in last year's rallies. Social media and rising economic expectations have fanned anger over inequalities in a country where around 80 percent are trapped in informal, poorly paid jobs. The United Nations said it was 'deeply troubled' over the deaths during this week's protests and that 'intentional lethal force by law enforcement officers, including with firearms, should only be used when strictly necessary to protect life from an imminent threat'. – By: © Agence France-Presse
ITV News
21 hours ago
- Politics
- ITV News
Kenya protests: 31 people killed in highest daily death toll since unrest began
The death toll of anti-government protests in Kenya on Monday has risen to 31 – marking the highest single-day toll since demonstrations began earlier this year. Another 107 people were injured and more than 500 were arrested amid widespread destruction of property, including supermarkets, the state-funded human rights commission said. The watchdog did not say whether any security forces were included in the death toll. For weeks, Kenyans have taken to the streets to protest against police brutality, poor governance, the rising cost of living, and to demand President William Ruto's resignation over alleged corruption. On Tuesday the UN high commissioner for human rights, Volker Türk, urged Kenya's government to address protesters' grievances and called for "calm and restraint, and full respect for the freedoms of expression, association and peaceful assembly". Monday's protests coincided with the 35th anniversary of Saba Saba Day (meaning "Seven Seven" in Swahili), which saw Kenyans take to the streets in 1990 to demand free elections and a return to multi-party democracy. That demand was realised during the 1992 general elections. Protesters on Monday were met with police roadblocks preventing access to downtown Nairobi, while officers used tear gas and water cannons to keep demonstrators away. There have also been unconfirmed reports of police opening fire on protesters. Video footage geolocated by ITV News' North American partner CNN shows a civilian in Kiambu County stepping out of a car surrounded by armed officers, and then being whipped repeatedly by one of them. They cover their head to protect themself, and do not appear to be threatening the officer in any way. In a statement on Monday night, Kenya's police service said that 'each reported incident will be subject to further investigation, in accordance with the law'. A wave of protests was sparked by a teacher and blogger's death in police custody last month. Police shot a civilian at close range during a protest on June 17, prompting thousands of people across the country to take to the streets. A total of 50 people have been killed in the protests over the last two weeks, more than half of whom last their lives on Monday alone. Yesterday, the Kenya National Cohesion and Integration Commission, a government body whose commissioners are appointed by the president, urged politicians not to fuel ethnic tensions and criticised police for using excessive force towards Minister Kipchumba Murkomen last week told police to 'shoot on sight' anyone who approaches police stations during protests after several were burned. Public anger has built on Ruto's efforts to make Kenyans pay more to help pay off massive government debt. Last year, thousands of young people protesting rising taxes stormed parliament, leading Ruto to promise to cut government spending. Some people have been taking advantage of the chaos by looting shops, with some business owners saying they have lost large amounts of goods. "They invaded our shop, and by the way, we have lost so many things. We lost cash, phones, a lot of them,' mobile phone seller Nancy Gicharu said. The clampdown comes after individuals described by the Kenyan Human Rights Commission as 'hired goons' who were 'sent by the state to silence dissent' stormed the NGO's office. In a statement on Sunday night, the human rights body said those who entered the building 'violently disrupted a press conference by Kenyan mothers calling for an end to arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances, and extrajudicial killings targeting protesters ahead of Saba Saba demonstrations'. A police spokesman said: 'The National Police Service is looking into the incident and shall take appropriate steps after reviewing the unacceptable clip.' Earlier on Sunday, Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen said security agencies were 'on high alert to deal decisively with criminals and other elements of ill intent who may seek to infiltrate peaceful processions to cause havoc, mayhem, or destruction of property'. Murkomen previously described last month's demonstrations as 'terrorism disguised as dissent,' in a statement that further reignited outrage.
Business Insider
a day ago
- Politics
- Business Insider
Kenya's president, Ruto, permits gun violence as a response to civil unrest
Kenya's recent protests on July 7 (Saba Saba Day) have reportedly resulted in the deaths of at least 31 people, with hundreds of injuries, and over 500 arrests recorded. Additionally, businesses are said to have been vandalized as civil unrest defines the current state of Kenyan affairs. In response, Kenya's president, William Ruto has given the police a lot more discretion. Protests on Saba Saba Day resulted in significant casualties and arrests, highlighting civil unrest in Kenya. President Ruto increased police powers to manage the demonstrations amid public calls for his resignation. Youth frustration over socio-economic issues and alleged police brutality fuels ongoing opposition against the administration. For a little over a year, the Ruto administration has faced an unrelenting generation of young Kenyans demanding a change to their current socio-economic realities. Their demands have led to demonstrations, and what now seems like a very violent unending bout between young Kenyans and the current administrative structure. This stalemate results from the fact that while youths in the East African country are demanding that the president step down, Ruto's substantial legislative majority ensures that he will not be unseated early. However, this has done little to quell the frustrations of Kenyans as they continue to protest the shortcomings and impunity of the authorities. Very recently, the country's human rights commission revealed that the number of people killed in Monday's protests in Kenya has risen to 31. The Kenyan police still insists that the number of casualties is 11. As reported by the BBC, the rallies on Monday were supposed to honor Kenya's decades-long battle for democracy, but they rapidly escalated into violence in 17 of the country's 47 counties. Many demonstrators screamed "Ruto must go" and "wantam," which means "one term," a popular rallying cry demanding that President William Ruto leave office. The protests is said to have also resulted in the destruction of businesses across states. In response, William Ruto alluded to the premise that the violence from the side of the protests is being sponsored by opposition leaders. To this effect, he warned that these leaders would be hunted down after he had given the go-ahead for police to shoot to incapacitate those looking to use the protests as a means to vandalize properties. "We want peace and people to carry on with their businesses. But someone who destroys and torches other people's businesses should be shot in the legs and taken to the hospital before being arraigned in court,' the president stated, as reported by Tuko. "We shall not tolerate that nonsense. I want to say, police should not shoot Kenyans to kill, but criminals who have looted businesses should be dealt with," the president added. "We are going to use whatever means is available to make sure that we stabilize the country, we cannot accept mayhem and anarchy to destroy the development we have in the country," Ruto asserted. "This country will not be destroyed by a few people, who are impatient, and who want to have a change of government using unconstitutional means." He also warned against attacking police officers, as he stated, 'We are coming after you, you cannot sponsor violence in the Republic of Kenya and expect to go scot free. Nimewavumilia ya kutosha, sasa mtanikoma. Anyone who attacks police or police stations is a declaration of war on the state; we shall deal with you firmly." These statements present a conundrum, given that, outside of economic downturns, Kenyans are also protesting police brutality. Origins of Kenya's recent protests The current demonstrations happening in Kenya can be traced back to 2024, when Kenyans took to the streets to demand the dissolution of a bill intended to tax basic products. The 2024 protests would eventually pivot to anti-government protests, where the Ruto must go sentiment originated, as people called for the resignation of the president. However, it is safe to assume that this sentiment was re-ignited by the suspicious death of blogger and educator Albert Ojwang in police custody. Ojwang, a 31-year-old teacher, renowned for his politically inflammatory comments on X and Facebook, was detained early in June, in Homa Bay, a town in western Kenya, for reportedly attacking Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat on social media. Days later, he was reported dead in police custody. Authorities first stated that Ojwang died as a result of head injuries caused by striking a cell wall. Albert Ojwang's death sparked fresh calls for Ruto's resignation, as protesters took to the streets to demand justice. The president's initial silence to the controversy did not help matters either. Not long after, the anniversary of the 2024 protests rolled along, and protests in the streets of Kenya intensified. Since then, it has been an intense back-and-forth between outraged Kenyans and law enforcement agents, with more casualties being reported each day. The most recent protests, however, mark the 35th anniversary of the historic Saba Saba (meaning 'seven-seven') protests of July 7, 1990, which launched Kenya's push for multi-party democracy.
