KENYAN police used tear gas to disperse protesters who were burning tyres in renewed anti-government demonstrations.
The protests, which Reuters describes as “the biggest crisis of Ruto’s two years in power,” were initially sparked by proposed tax increases but have continued even after President William Ruto made concessions, including withdrawing $2.7 billion in tax hikes and reshuffling his cabinet.
Reuters reporters observed approximately 200 protesters in Kitengela, a town near Nairobi, chanting slogans against Ruto and demanding his resignation. The news agency also reported similar scenes in Nairobi’s city centre and the coastal city of Mombasa.
The article notes that protest organizers called for a “total shutdown” of the country on Tuesday, with many demonstrators accusing Ruto of misgovernance, corruption, and responsibility for the deaths of protesters in earlier rallies.
Reuters reports that Ruto’s office had announced plans for talks to address protesters’ grievances, but many leading activists have rejected the invitation, instead calling for immediate action on issues such as corruption.
The news agency also mentions that Ruto has accused the Ford Foundation of sponsoring violence during the protests, an allegation the organization has denied.
