The protests take place despite President William Ruto’s drastic actions that include dissolving his entire Cabinet
The country is braced for another round of anti-government protests dubbed ‘Total Shutdown Tuesday’ poised for Tuesday, July 16.
Following the violent demonstrations that erupted in Nairobi, Mombasa and other towns on Tuesday, July 2, there is a sense of caution among those intending to participate in the protests today following reports of chaos and casualties.
The protests take place despite President William Ruto’s drastic actions that include dissolving his entire Cabinet sparing only Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, and vowing to eliminate the offices of the first and second ladies, as well as the office of the prime cabinet secretary’s spouse.
This is a pivotal moment as Ruto’s administration is seeking to save face by addressing some of the demands raised by the youth during the protests.
A protester navigates teargas in Nairobi CBD. /AL JAZEERA
The protest organisers’ call to action, shared widely on social media, is emphatic: “If you can’t protest, stay home in memory of the heroes we have lost in the peaceful protests, and in solidarity with the GenZs who are fighting for a better Kenya.”
The unrest began in response to the Finance Bill 2024, which had threatened to impose a slew of punitive taxes to further damage the spending power of the ordinary mwananchi. However, since the protests began, a grim toll has emerged with 41 lives lost and over 600 arrests made.
The protests today are expected to take a charged turn following reports of the discovery of bodies in Kware, Mukuru kwa Njenga, with Kenyans demanding answers from authorities, despite the arrest of a key suspect in the heinous killings.
Keep refreshing this page as Viral Tea provides you with the latest updates, reactions and analysis of the anti-government protests:
1 pm: Streets Deserted in Nakuru as Protests Begin
The streets of Nakuru CBD which would normally be teeming with people are deserted, with police on patrol and members of the press wearing press jackets covering every moment of it.
The officers appear to be keeping vigilance for anyone who may infiltrate the protests to cause chaos.
Earlier, Acting Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja issued a statement that reads in part “The National Police Service notes that there are planned demonstrations today Tuesday, July 16, 2024, organised by young Kenyans, also known as Gen Z, to exercise their fundamental right to peacefully assemble, picket and demonstrate under Article 37 of our Constitution.”
“In the recent past, however, we have regrettably witnessed the tragic loss of lives, injuries, violence, criminal conduct and the destruction of property from similar protests, resulting in the collective pain and suffering for families and the disruption of business and normal working operations for thousands of Kenyans,” he added.
The Acting Inspector General revealed that credible intelligence has been received indicating plans by organised criminal groups to infiltrate and disrupt the peaceful demonstrations.
This information has raised concerns about the safety of the participants. Kanja noted, “This morning, we received credible intelligence indicating that certain organised criminal groups have planned to infiltrate, disrupt and destabilise the peaceful nature of the demonstrations, which could potentially jeopardise the safety of demonstrators.”