The streets of Nairobi erupted in chaos on Tuesday as anti-government protests against tax hikes turned violent. Activists, who initially mobilized Kenyans to push for President William Ruto’s resignation, are now grappling with a new challenge: keeping their movement from being discredited by the very violence they abhor.
What They Are saying
Tuesday’s demonstrations, intended to be a peaceful push against proposed tax increases, were hijacked by what activists describe as “goons” hired by politicians to stir trouble. The result? Looting, clashes with police, and widespread destruction of property.
“It seems the state has realized that the only way to counter this movement is by using goons to incite violence, break into people’s property, loot, and tarnish our cause,” said Ojango Omondi, a prominent activist in Nairobi. “It’s time to go back to the drawing board and strategize on how best to overcome this violence and keep our protests focused on their true objectives.”
The Kenyan government, predictably, has a different take. Interior Minister Kithure Kindike blamed the chaos on “hordes of marauding criminal gangs,” insisting there was an attempt to “politicize crime.” Yet, the government’s silence on the legitimate grievances of peaceful protesters is deafening.
Why It Matters.
The protests initially began peacefully last month, with Kenyans from various ethnic backgrounds uniting over common economic concerns—a significant departure from the country’s historically ethnically-driven political movements. However, the situation escalated last week when some demonstrators briefly stormed parliament, prompting police to open fire and kill dozens. The government’s subsequent withdrawal of the tax increases has done little to quell the unrest, as protesters continue to demand anti-corruption measures and Ruto’s resignation.
Tuesday’s violence saw young men clashing with police, looters targeting businesses, and shopowners arming themselves with sticks and clubs. Foi Wambui, a young actress who came to protest, voiced the frustration of many peaceful demonstrators: “What has happened is that peaceful protesters are deterred from coming to town, and we are deterred from actually coming and practicing our civic duties.”
President Ruto and his allies have seized on the violence to discredit the movement, widely known as Gen Z protests for its youthful following. Dennis Itumbi, a political consultant close to Ruto, sarcastically congratulated the protesters on social media, posting a video of alleged demonstrators committing crimes. “The police should not interfere with your moves,” he quipped.
In a public forum attended by over 400,000 people, opinions were divided. Some blamed the activists for continuing to call for protests after the tax hikes were withdrawn, while others pointed fingers at paid troublemakers. Many agreed, however, that it might be time to step back and rethink their approach.
“We will have more casualties and we will not achieve what we want,” warned one speaker. “Let’s go back. Let’s strategize.”
Bottom Line
As the dust settles, the question remains: Can Kenya’s activists reclaim their movement from the brink of chaos and refocus on their legitimate demands? Or will the violence taint their cause beyond repair?
