On Thursday, police used tear gas to disperse anti-government protesters from the heart of Nairobi, Kenya's capital, as the protest movement aimed to leverage recent concessions to force President William Ruto to step down. The "Nane Nane" march, which translates to "eight eight" in reference to the date, comes after several weeks of pro-reform demonstrations that led Ruto to cancel planned tax increases and reshuffle his cabinet. The nationwide protests, led by the youth, started peacefully in June but later turned violent, resulting in over 50 deaths. Shops closed and streets emptied as riot police blocked roads and used tear gas to scatter small groups of protesters in Nairobi's financial district. According to a Reuters journalist, police fired tear gas at a group of about a dozen protesters chanting "Ruto must go".
This marks the most significant crisis during Ruto's two-year tenure, as he succumbed to pressure and postponed the new taxes in June after some protesters briefly breached parliament. Last month, Ruto dismissed his entire cabinet except for the foreign minister, a win for activists and protesters who demanded extensive changes. He then appointed opposition members to his cabinet, but this move was criticized by activists as a corrupt bargain and they reiterated their call for Ruto's resignation. They demanded profound reforms to combat corruption and improve service delivery by both regional and national governments.
Ruto has argued that the new cabinet represents national unity and will meet the demands of the protest movement. He has pledged to investigate alleged police misconduct during demonstrations but generally defended their actions. The newly formed cabinet was sworn in on Thursday. "Where Kenya is today, while competition is healthy and good, there is a moment where the interest of a nation is greater than the interest of a political formation," Ruto stated in a speech following the swearing-in ceremony. The protests lack official leadership and have primarily been coordinated online. Ruto has intensified his criticism of the protests after initially commending the demonstrators for their peaceful conduct.
"We are a proudly democratic country, based on the firm foundation of the rule of law. There is no room for anarchy, chaos, and violence," Ruto declared in Embu County on Wednesday. The Kenyan police advised people to steer clear of crowded areas ahead of Thursday's protests and announced the deployment of sufficient personnel across the country.
