Chaos in Kisii and Nairobi as Teargas Meets Youth Protests

Tuesday witnessed a resurgence of civil unrest with protests erupting across various parts of the country.

Police forces have deployed teargas to disperse crowds of demonstrating youths along Waiyaki Way. These young protesters gathered on a flyover near the Kangemi area and responded by hurling stones at the officers and obstructing the road. The conflict has resulted in billowing dark smoke visible along the highway. Similar scenes are unfolding in other regions of Kenya. In Mlolongo, along Mombasa Road, groups of youths have taken to dancing on the highway as a form of protest.

The unrest has also reached the capital’s central business district with police using teargas on Tom Mboya Street to push back protesters attempting to access the upper parts of the CBD. These actions by law enforcement appear to contravene a recent court ruling which prohibited the use of live ammunition, rubber bullets, and other violent measures against protesters. The demonstrations have had a significant impact on local businesses with many shops in affected areas opting to remain closed for the day. The protests stem from growing discontent with President William Ruto’s administration, with demonstrators calling for governmental reforms and even demanding the president’s resignation.

The trigger for this unrest is the escalating cost of living in Kenya. In Kisii town a group of protesters marched through the streets, brandishing placards with messages such as “Our lives matter” and vocalizing anti-government slogans. Demonstrators have expressed particular disappointment with Kenya Kwanza legislators from their region, accusing them of misleading voters during the last General Elections. One protester, Evans Bororo, criticizes the government’s “bottom-up agenda” as empty rhetoric, stating that he struggles to afford even necessities.

Another demonstrator, university student Josephine Bosire, voices her dismay at President Ruto’s perceived lack of remorse following recent violent protests in Nairobi that resulted in fatalities. As the demonstrations gained momentum by mid-morning, authorities took preemptive measures to prevent potential looting, stationing at least three police officers at every supermarket within affected communities.