Kenyans living in the United States of America (USA) on Saturday, July 20, 2024, staged protests outside the International Monetary Fund (IMF) headquarters in Washington DC.
In a video shared by legendary Kenyan Genge musician Hubert Mbuku Nakitare AKA Nonini who has since relocated to the US, the protesters are heard chanting anti-IMF protest songs.
IMF exit from Kenya
“Comrades eeeh, comrades aaaah. Kenya Viva Kenya. When we lose our fear they lose their power. IMF chini..IMF down. Wakwende ama wasikwende. Waanguke nayo ama?
“We are here today to pass a very important message to the IMF, that we are tired of your exploitation, that we are tired of your manipulation, and that you should leave Kenya now. For many years we have asked the IMF to stop lobbying Kenya money,” a protester with a microphone in the video is heard saying.
Kenyans today protesting outside the offices of IMF international monetary fund Headquarters in Washington DC! Mambo ni Vulai LIVE 🔥🔥🔥💯 pic.twitter.com/ciPILckca3
— Nonini 🇰🇪🇺🇲 (@Noninimgenge2ru) July 21, 2024
Nonini in a caption to his video indicated that the protests were happening in real time at the time he had shared.
“Kenyans today protesting outside the offices of IMF international monetary fund Headquarters in Washington DC! Mambo ni Vulai LIVE,” Nonini stated.
IMF protests
On July 16, 2024, Kenyans residing in America issued a statement on their plans to stage a protest at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) headquarters to demand accountability over the death of Kenyans killed in the wake of what they have termed IMF-backed austerity measures.
The demonstrations are also aimed at demanding answers regarding arbitrary disappearances in the wake of the youth-led anti-government demonstrations.
”We demand that the IMF take full responsibility for the deaths of the youth opposing their neocolonial programs of debt entrapment. These measures have exacerbated economic hardships and pushed many Kenyans to the brink. Furthermore, the excessive use of force against peaceful demonstrators reflects a callous disregard for human rights and democratic freedom by the IMF and Ruto axis,” the statement by Kenyans in Diaspora read in part.
The Diaspora community argues that the IMF has remained silent throughout the unrest in Kenya despite its measures being the bone of contention.
The IMF had in May this year predicted unrest in the face of the passage of the controversial Finance Bill 2024, urging President William Ruto to be firm with the measures.
The Gen Z-led protests in Kenya, however, forced President Ruto to withdraw the controversial Bill.
Following the withdrawal of the bill, the IMF issued a new tax advisory for Kenya.