As protests erupted across Kenya over a spate of recent abductions and gruesome discoveries of dismembered bodies, President William Ruto remained focused on state affairs, hosting the outgoing Swiss ambassador at State House.
Photos shared by the President on social media on Tuesday, July 16, 2024, show him engaged in discussions with Ambassador Valentin Zellweger, who is ending a four-year diplomatic posting in Kenya.
The meeting underscored the diplomatic and economic ties between Kenya and Switzerland.
“Kenya and Switzerland have the unique status of being host countries for United Nations agencies,” President Ruto wrote on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.
“Our two nations have strong ties which will be further boosted when discussions on sorting out double taxation are completed.
“Consequently, our business people will trade more. We are also negotiating a carbon credit agreement that will be mutually beneficial to our two nations. Kenya has already developed regulations that will guide carbon trading.
Nationwide demos
The diplomatic event stood in stark contrast to the scenes unfolding in the streets of Nairobi and other major cities and towns across the country.
Thousands of Kenyans took to the streets to voice their anger and frustration over the recent spike in abductions and the discovery of mutilated body parts dumped in dams and quarries.
Tuesday’s demonstrations mark a resurgence of public dissent, which had momentarily waned after President Ruto conceded to several demands from earlier protests.
The re-emergence of forced disappearances and mystery deaths, however, has exacerbated public discontent.
Kenya has a troubled history of extrajudicial killings by security forces, a legacy that has fueled widespread suspicion and anger among the populace.
The latest incidents have only intensified these sentiments, prompting renewed calls for government accountability and justice for the victims.
As the nation grapples with these grim developments, the juxtaposition of high-level diplomacy at the State House and the chaos in the streets paints a vivid picture of Kenya’s current crisis.
President Ruto’s ability to navigate this turbulent period will be critical in determining the country’s path forward.