Kenya’s News Outlets Call for Calm as Anti-Government Demonstrations Escalate
Kenya’s usually competitive news outlets came together on Thursday to issue a joint plea for calm amidst the country’s ongoing anti-government protests. The demonstrations, which have turned increasingly chaotic in recent weeks, have resulted in the deaths of at least 29 people and pose a significant challenge to President William Ruto’s year-old rule.
The Daily Nation, Standard, and other major newspapers featured an identical banner headline on their front pages that read, “Let’s save our country,” highlighting the urgent need for resolution in the current crisis. The joint article warned that Kenya is on the brink of descending into a “dark and dangerous abyss” if its leaders fail to address the destabilizing situation that has impacted one of Africa’s strongest democracies.
The protest action, aimed at protesting soaring food and fuel prices and steep tax hikes, saw clashes between police and demonstrators in Nairobi on Thursday. The police, at times utilizing live rounds, killed six people during clashes on Wednesday and detained approximately 300 individuals, including a prominent opposition politician who was taken to a police station 60 miles from the capital.
The capital city of Nairobi, as well as several other cities, were engulfed in tear gas and black smoke from burning tires as running battles between protesters and the police prompted the closure of businesses and schools on Wednesday. However, on Thursday, law enforcement seemed to gain control, leading to the reopening of some stores and schools.
The United Nations Human Rights office expressed concern over reports that Kenyan police had killed 23 people in protests the previous week and called for an investigation into the “disproportionate use of force.” A Western diplomat claimed that protests occurred in 13 of Kenya’s 47 counties on Wednesday, a smaller number compared to the previous week.
These protests are spearheaded by Raila Odinga, the opposition leader who was defeated by President Ruto in last year’s presidential election, a loss he adamantly refuses to accept. Despite international observers and Kenya’s Supreme Court validating the election results, Odinga has periodically organized mass rallies, accusing Ruto of election rigging and economic mismanagement. The rising cost of living, including a 30 percent increase in wheat prices and a 60 percent increase in sugar prices over the past year, has fueled public frustration.
While Odinga’s supporters, many of whom come from the Luo ethnic group, face off against armed police on the streets, his representatives have privately made demands that focus on political self-interest, including securing a top posting at the African Union.
Mr. Odinga himself has not been seen in public this week, raising speculation on social media. His daughter, Winnie, tweeted on Wednesday to assure the public that her father is “fine,” while his aides have informed Western officials that he is currently suffering from the flu.
Kenya’s economic troubles are partially due to global factors beyond Ruto’s control, such as the conflict in Ukraine and rising interest rates. Ruto inherited a national debt that has quadrupled to $61 billion over the past decade. However, his harsh economic policies toward his own supporters and uncompromising approach toward critics have also contributed to popular discontent.
In a recent speech, Ruto vowed to crush the protests, stating, “You cannot use extrajudicial, extra-constitutional means to look for power in Kenya. Wait for 2027. I will beat you again.”
Religious and business leaders in Kenya, along with foreign diplomats, have initiated efforts to mediate between the two sides and find a peaceful resolution. The memory of the post-election violence in 2007 and 2008, which claimed hundreds of lives and nearly led the country into civil war, looms large.
The ongoing protests are costing the country approximately $20 million per day, excluding lost foreign investments, according to Kenya’s national statistics agency. Previously viewed as East Africa’s economic powerhouse and a popular tourist destination, Kenya is now seeing some investors turning towards neighboring Tanzania as a more stable option.
At the core of the current protests is a controversial finance bill signed into law by President Ruto last month. The law includes a deeply unpopular 1.5 percent levy on salaried workers for a housing and jobs fund. Although the Kenyan court recently blocked the law, citing constitutional irregularities, Ruto proceeded with other measures, including a doubling of the fuel tax to 16 percent, which has significantly impacted his own voters.
Last year, Ruto presented himself as the champion of Kenya’s “hustlers,” a term referring to young individuals striving for success despite their modest backgrounds. However, many of these hustlers now feel betrayed and are taking to the streets in protest.
Amidst the ongoing turmoil, Kenya’s editors pleaded for introspection, cautioning that the nation could inadvertently slide into a full-scale conflict if the situation worsens.